2018 Dakar Rally Media Guide

Dear media representatives

January 2018 will see the start of the 40th edition of the Dakar.
Each year the Dakar organising team lay out a dramatic racing arena,
full of natural challenges, to test the endurance of man and machines.
The 2018 Dakar promises to be no less of a challenge than its
predecessors; this astounding race takes the competitors across the
deserts, mountains and plains of Peru and Bolivia before the final
finish line in Argentina.

 

Dakar is a truly international event that brings admiration and
respect from across the globe to all competitors, but especially those
that succeed in completing this endurance spectacle.

 

Having captured four consecutive Dakar titles for MINI from 2012 to
2015, as well as five four-wheel drive class wins and four FIA Cross
Country Rally World Cup titles, MINI Motorsport, our motorsport
partner X-raid and the MINI Family of racing crews will attack Dakar
2018 with even more determination than before. The success these
partnerships have already achieved extends the heritage of MINI’s
sporting prowess that began over 50 years ago with victories in the
Monte Carlo Rally among other illustrious rally competitions.

 

In addition to the already successful MINI John Cooper Works Rally
and the MINI ALL4 Racing, the Dakar 2018 will also be the world stage
for the race debut of an all-new motorsport vehicle: the MINI John
Cooper Works Buggy. This exciting addition completes the MINI
Motorsport line-up and extends the MINI presence into the highly
competitive two-wheel drive class for the first time. 

 

To compete within two categories of cross-country rally typifies the
sporting nature of MINI performance sub-brand MINI John Cooper Works –
and further underlines MINI Motorsport’s future commitment to this
challenging section of motorsport. Of course, to debut the MINI John
Cooper Works Buggy at Dakar – the most demanding cross-country event –
will itself be a challenge. However, MINI’s long-term strategic
partnership with X-raid has already proven the MINI brand is more than
up to the challenging task at hand.

 

MINI Motorsport partner X-raid has, over the years, safely guided the
MINI Family of international crews to success with complete mastery
thanks to its experienced teams of engineers, managers and support
personnel. Then there are the crews themselves; drivers and co-drivers
from all-corners of the world who unite to thrill spectators and
achieve the ultimate success of completing the Dakar.

 

On behalf of MINI, I wish all competitors, support teams and
spectators a safe and exciting Dakar 2018.

 

Yours sincerely

Sebastian Mackensen, Senior Vice President MINI.