IT'S a MINI - but not as we know it. It is the new John Cooper Works Rally car which next year will take on the Dakar, the toughest rally in the world.
MINI have a great history in the Dakar. They won every year from 2012 to 2015.
The car has been developed by the famous X-Raid team and underlines MINI's commitment to motorsport and in particular endurance rallying.
It is based amazingly on the all-new MINI Countryman but with a few tweaks here and there.
When MINI and X-Raid decided to produce a new version of the rally car for 2017, they concentrated on six key areas - aerodynamics, thermal management, weight distributions, the centre of gravity, chassis frame development, engine mapping.
The result is a car that they reckon will take on all-comers - and yet is still quite recognisable as a MINI.
Hours of detailed work was spent in the BMW's wind tunnel getting the aerodynamic shape of the car right, to reduce drag - yet still create a car capable of all manner of terrain and driving conditions, like rain, snow and desert. On the Dakar, it will have to cope with soft sand, wet mud and at heights from 3000ft above sea level on mountain tracks to valley river beds.
Carbon fibre and Kevlar make up much of the bodywork on the new Dakar MINI for greater strength and durability and additional protection for the two man crew. This also reduces weight and means that the panels can be easily removed if an engineer needs to work on other parts of the car.
All three spare wheels now slot underneath the car changing the weight and improving stability and there is a new style of racing alloy. Colours used in the rally car will trickle down to the road cars.
The body is wider and the bonnet has been lowered. Larger air intakes now form part of the design.
A new chassis and subframe not only gives greater protection to the drivers but it also allows the engine to be completely removed in an hour.
The 3.0-litre 340hp engine is a BMW Group TwinPower Turbo six cylinder, which is already race proven for MINI and is tuned for low diesel consumption. New engine mapping enhances this and adds to performance at altitude and sea level. There is a new exhaust too.
The new Dakar MINI is already undergoing extensive and stringent tests under the eagle eye of the X-Raid team.
Sebastian Mackensen, MINI senior vice-president, said: "MINI and X-Raid is a legendary partnership.
"Together, we have shaped today's rich sporting heritage of this famous British brand with the four victories in a row at the Dakar and of the FIA Cross Country World Cup from 2012 to 2015 and we wish to continue in the same direction and prove the authentic racing competence of John Cooper Works.
"This racing spirit will always be a part of MINI's genes and products.
"The competitive debut of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally at the 2017 Dakar Rally is a tough debut indeed. The Dakar Rally is the epitome of long-distance rally, where the competitive stress placed on man and machine is like no other but perfectly represents the sporting spirit of MINI Motorsport and the John Cooper Works sub-brand."
Source: www.bing.com
