The Monster Energy X-Raid Mini All 4 team is ready to take on the 2012 Dakar Rally in South America. Considered the most difficult, and dangerous rally on Earth! [ Ссылка ]
The route of the Dakar Rally is over 8000 kilometres from the Atlantic coast in Argentina and across the continent of South America to Chile, until the rally eventually reaches Peru. Vast desert landscapes, craggy canyons, impassable pebbly plains and, last but not least, the Andes will once again make life difficult for the competitors.
Amongst all this is the X-raid team with its five MINI ALL4 Racing cars. A powerful 315 bhp, three-litre diesel engine and four-wheel drive make the MINI ALL4 Racing the ideal vehicle for a strenuous trip through the desert.
The competitors must complete up to 800 kilometres per day -- a nerve-wracking, two-week marathon, during which the organisers only allow the drivers one rest day. No wonder more than 50% of entrants retire from the Dakar Rally each year. Whatever happens, everyday will be an exciting day when the Dakar Rally gets underway on 1st January 2012.
The team:
* Stéphane Peterhansel /FRA (born 6th Aug. 1965): Nine-time Rally Dakar winner, six of which came on a motorbike.
* Jean-Paul Cottret /FRA (born 19th Jun. 1963): Triple Rally Dakar winner. Long-term co-driver for Peterhansel.
* Joan "Nani" Roma /ESP (born 17th Feb. 1972): Won the Rally Dakar on a motorbike in 2004. Been racing on four wheels since 2005.
* Michel Perin /FRA (born 19th Jan. 1957): Triple Rally Dakar winner. Multiple winner of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.
* Leonid Novitskiy /RUS (born 1st Jul. 1968): Many years of experience in off-road sport. 2010 and 2011 winner of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.
* Andi Schulz /GER (born 3rd Mar. 1955): Double Rally Dakar winner, including victory with Jutta Kleinschmidt. Co-driver for Leonid Novitskiy since 2009. 2010 and 2011 winner of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.
* Ricardo Leal dos Santos /POR (born 20th Jul. 1972): Regarded as one of the best independent drivers at the Rally Dakar, before switching to the X-raid team. Started his career on quad bikes.
* Paulo Fiuza /POR (born 19th Apr. 1975): Started his career as a co-driver in off-road sport in 2011.
* Krzysztof Holowczyc /POL (born 4th Jun. 1962): Racing in his seventh Rally Dakar in 2012. Finished fifth in 2011. Won the European Rally Championship in 1997. Polish Rally Champion in 1995, 1996 and 1999. Won the Silk Way Rally in 2011.
* Jean-Marc Fortin /BEL (born 4th Jul. 1968): Can call on many years of experience as a co-driver in off-road rallying.
