Media Information
Baja Aragon
21 July 2017
New challenge for MINI at 2017 Baja Aragon – Round 7, FIA
Cross Country Rally World cup.
- Two MINI John Cooper Works Rally tackle Baja Aragon
- Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) teams up with Andreas Schulz (GER)
- Jakub Kuba Przygonski (POL) and Xavier Panseri (FRA) join forces
-
Orlando Terranova (ARG) ad Paulo Fiuza (PRT) compete in MINI
ALL4 Racing.
Munich. A host of experienced drivers and navigators will take
on the challenge of the Baja Aragon this weekend in Spain for Round
7 of the World Cup for FIA Cross Country Rallies.
Three MINI cars will be among the competitors at Aragon this weekend;
two MINI John Cooper Works Rally crewed by Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) with
co-driver Andreas Schulz (GER) and Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski (POL) with
co-driver Xavier Panseri (FRA) and one MINI All 4 Racing driven by
Orlando Terranova (ARG) with co-driver Paulo Fiuza (PRT).
While Hirvonen and Schulz are both experienced rally competitors,
driving together is a new opportunity for the pair. As one of Germany’
most successful Dakar competitors, with two victories to his name in
the world’s most challenging endurance race, Schulz was the perfect
choice to support Hirvonen.
For Przygonski, who sits second in the 2017 World Cup rankings
overall, despite missing the first three races, this is an opportunity
to close the 36-point gap to the top of the leader board. He is joined
by Panseri who has already enjoyed three Cross Country Rally podiums,
including one win, this year.
Also contesting the event in a MINI ALL4 Racing will be Orlando
Terranova (ARG) and Paulo Fiuza (PRT). Terranova completed this year’s
Dakar Rally as the leading MINI competitor in sixth position and
achieved a fifth place in the Baja Aragon last year.
This year’s event will take in a distance of 770.76km, including
special stages of 544.31km raced against the clock around the city of
Teruel. For the first time, the 2017 event will form part of the Dakar
Challenge. With all three MINI drivers carrying the FIA Priority
Drivers rating they will be subject to special regulations, allowing
them to use only 12 tyres during the event.
Scrutineering and race action begins in Aragon today, with X-raid
also still fielding competitors in the final two stages of the 2017
Silk Way Rally in China today and tomorrow.