Hungarian Baja 2017 –
Round 8, FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup
.
- Three MINI crews to contest Hungarian Baja 2017.
-
Mikko Hirvonen returns to Hungary, scene of his maiden MINI
win in 2016
. -
Jakub Przygonski and Tom Colsoul look to improve second
place standing in the
FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup. -
Conrad Rautenbach makes first appearance for MINI. Filipe
Palmeiro is in the co-driver seat.
Munich. Cross-country race fans will be watching all the
action of the Hungarian Baja 2017 very closely as the international
gathering of drivers and teams commence preparations for Dakar Rally
2018. For MINI and motorsport partner X-raid, the Hungarian Baja
race is yet another chance to hone and further develop the
established and highly regarded MINI cross-country challengers.
Hungarian Baja 2017 (10-13th August) is the eighth round
of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup. Last year’s event ended in
jubilation for MINI and celebration for Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) by taking
the win – his first cross-country world rally win with MINI. It was a
case of double celebration because American Bryce Menzies completed
the race with a fine second place spot on the podium.
The Hungarian Baja 2017 starts with official administrative checks
and scrutineering of cars and competitors. First sign of action comes
with a shakedown test session on Friday 11th August. This
is then followed in the evening with the first official race action
that is the Super Special Stage. At the end of this thrilling 11.41km
time-trial stage, the ten fastest competitors can then select their
starting order for Saturday’s (12th August) Stage 2. Sunday
13th August is race end.
Returning to Hungary in a MINI John Cooper Works Rally (#4) is last
year’s event winner Mikko Hirvonen. This year his co-driver is Andreas
Schulz (GER)… and both are keen to net the same success.
Hirvonen; “I have fond memories of the Hungarian
Baja. We now begin our Dakar preparations and, therefore, it is of
major importance to cover racing miles. Last year, it was raining a
lot in the run-up to the Baja and the conditions were very muddy. If
the conditions are similar for this year the rally will be very
difficult. The Baja is rather fast with routes resembling those often
used in WRC.”
Jakub Przygonski (POL) with co-driver Tom Colsoul (BEL) is currently
riding high in this year’s FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup with
second place in the standings. Just weeks after completing Baja
Aragon, the Orlen Team duo are keen to push their MINI John Cooper
Works Rally for a good finish and maintain their charge on the World
Cup number one position.
Joining the two regular crews of the MINI Family is newcomer Conrad
Rautenbach (ZWE), who will be at the controls of a MINI ALL4 Racing
with the experienced Filipe Palmeiro (POR) in the co-driver’s seat.
Rautenbach is no stranger to the rally scene, having already won the
African Rally Championship twice (2007, 2011), raced in WRC and
competed to the finish at the 2017 Dakar Rally. MINI and cross-country
rally fans alike wish this 33-year-old the best of luck in his first
outing for the MINI Family.
For more information about Hungarian Baja 2017, please visit the
hosting Baja’s home page here.
Hungarian Baja 2017: MINI line-up