MINI debuts in 2011 Dakar

The original BMC Mini boasted an illustrious rally heritage, including wins in the Monte Carlo rally, but the new BMW MINI's competition ventures have been limited to bitumen speed events -- usually in one-make series or celebrity challenges.

However, the new MINI is about to have a stab at success in the big leagues -- and on dirt. Prodrive is developing and testing an S2000 MINI Countryman for next year's WRC, but MINI's first offroad campaign will preempt the opening round of the 2011 WRC. The 2011 Dakar Rally kicks off in Buenos Aires on January 1 -- and joining the mixed bag of entries will be the MINI All4 Racing, crewed by the French team of Guerlain Chicherit and co-driver Michel Perin.

Behind the MINI All4 Racing entry is the X-Raid Team, which has won three consecutive titles since 2008 in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallying. Team director Sven Quandt has enlisted the aid of Magna Steyr to prepare the vehicle in collaboration with BMW and MINI Design. The team plans to begin testing the car in France from tonight, local time, before freighting it by air to South America in anticipation of scrutineering at the end of the month.

Magna Steyr is supplying the turbodiesel engine that will power the competition car and the company has extracted 710Nm of torque from the powerplant. It's not like the engine is all torque either. Power is calculated to reach 315hp (235kW) and with twin turbochargers, should be available at the driver's whim. Magna Steyr has submitted technical drawings to the FIA for compliance with regulations applying to cross-country motor sport.

The car features a carbon-kevlar body that can be removed entirely in about 30 minutes for ease of servicing en route. Other changes to the competition car include larger air intakes, a one-piece bonnet and an improved ventilation system (comprising a front air intake and a roof intake).

"This is a major development in cross-country rallying and something of which we are very excited," Quandt was quoted as saying in a press release. "There has been a very short time between the decision to go ahead and the roll out for the next Dakar, but we are confident that the new MINI All4 Racing will be competitive out of the 'box.

When the flag drops, the MINI will be one of a seven-vehicle team to be fielded by X-Raid in the Dakar, not including the team's two trucks that will be competing in the event also. As many as 80 people will be involved with the team's 2011 Dakar entry.

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