Tag Archives: Dakar Rally

Automobiles

Official: Ford shows off V8-powered Ranger headed to Dakar Rally

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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Avert your eyes now if you’re jealous that the global version of the Ford Ranger is not offered in the US. Ford’s midsize pickup is being tuned up to take on the 2014 Dakar Rally, and the result is a truck that is probably even cooler than any F-150 SVT Raptor we’ve ever seen in the States. Ford is actually building two versions of the truck for Dakar, which will run from January 5 through January 18, covering more than 5,000 miles from Argentina to Chile.

Starting with a fully composite body and a 5.0-liter V8 plucked from a Mustang, nearly every aspect of the trucks have been purpose built to take on the grueling race. This includes things like the six-speed sequential gearbox, liquid-cooled rear brakes and the 132-gallon fuel tank. As proof that Dakar is more about endurance than speed, the engines used in these race trucks will be limited to around 350 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, and will max out at a top speed of just 105 miles per hour. Scroll down for Ford’s official press release offering more information about the trucks and teams being prepped for Dakar.

Continue reading Ford shows off V8-powered Ranger headed to Dakar Rally

Ford shows off V8-powered Ranger headed to Dakar Rally originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jul 2013 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Official: Mini celebrates racing success with John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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French drivers Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret drove a Mini Countryman to a class win at this year’s Dakar Rally, and to commemorate their win, Mini has introduced a limited-volume car that will only be sold in France. The Mini John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013 might be a mouthful to say, but it’s a fitting tribute to Peterhansel’s eleventh Dakar win as this Countryman is painted to look like the rally car and only 11 will be sold in the Peterhansel’s home country.

Sporting a similar green-over-matte-black paint scheme as the Dakar Countryman, the JCW Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013 also adds green accents to the full-length top and side stripes, the side marker lights and also contrasting stitching inside the cabin. Adding to the car’s rally look, this special edition will also include the racers’ number card on the front doors, Dakar decals on the front and rear and Peterhansel’s signature on the hood. Grille-mounted rally lights, bright red brake calipers and unique 19-inch wheels with dark-painted inserts finish off the exterior design.

Continue reading Mini celebrates racing success with John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013

Mini celebrates racing success with John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Onze Pour France: Mini Creates 11 JCW Countryman ALL4s to Mark Dakar Victories [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

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By Alexander Stoklosa

Mini John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner

Mini loves to celebrate stuff, and now it’s partying in honor of its back-to-back wins at the brutal Dakar Rally, as well as driver Stéphane Peterhansel’s 11th Dakar trophy. But rather than drop it like it’s hot or bust out the bubbly, Mini is instead introducing an extremely limited-production Dakar-themed John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 to be sold exclusively in Peterhansel’s home country of France. READ MORE ››

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

MINI Wins Its Second Dakar Rally

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By Kurt Ernst

Peterhansel's MINI, in on-road trim - image: BMW
Peterhansel's MINI, in on-road trim - image: BMW

Peterhansel’s MINI, in on-road trim – image: BMW

In 2012, Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret took an unproven Monster Energy X-Raid Team MINI to victory in the Dakar Rally. As if that feat weren’t impressive enough, the second place car, driven by Nani Roma and Michel Perin, was also a Monster Energy X-Raid Team MINI. Proving the MINI’s dominance, the third place car, a Toyota finished over an hour behind the second MINI.

In the 2013 running of the Dakar Rally, Peterhansel and Cottret again took first place honors, finishing 42 minutes ahead of the second-place Toyota. Two more Monster Energy X-Raid Team MINIs finished in third and fourth, with the final two MINI entries crossing the line in 12th and 48th place.

Of the win, MINI’s senior vice president of brand management, Dr. Kay Segler, said, “This is a magnificent triumph and I would like to offer our congratulations on behalf of MINI not only to Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret, but also to Sven Quandt’s entire X-raid Team. The victory of the MINI ALL4 Racing last year was without doubt a surprise for many people. But now it is clear to everyone that this was no fluke. Anyone who comes home first after 8,600 kilometres (approx. 5,300 miles) in the world’s toughest rally has achieved something amazing.”

Just as in 2012, the MINI team dominated the rally almost from the start. Peterhansel and Cottret took the overall lead after only two stages, then spent the rest of the event defending their position. Last year’s second-place duo of Roma and Perin were ultimately relegated to a fourth-place finish, after being passed by teammates Leonid Novitskiy and Konstantin Zhiltsov, who finished third.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

Automobiles

Motorsports: Two die in Peru when taxi collides with Dakar Rally support vehicle

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By Zach Bowman

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Dakar Rally route 2013

Dakar Rally organizers report a support vehicle and two taxis were involved in an accident on January 9. The support vehicle collided head-on with a taxi carrying six people, while the second taxi, carrying four people, overturned several times in an attempt to avoid the accident. Seven people were injured and are now being treated in a hospital in Tacna, Peru, including three occupants of the support vehicle. Tragically, the driver and one passenger in the first taxi died of injuries sustained in the crash. Three local ambulances, a fire engine and local police all responded to the scene.

Peruvian police have also supplied a helicopter to transport the seriously injured from Tacna to a hospital in Peru. Local law enforcement has begun an investigation into the cause of the accident. You can read the brief press release from the Dakar Rally below for more information.

Continue reading Two die in Peru when taxi collides with Dakar Rally support vehicle

Two die in Peru when taxi collides with Dakar Rally support vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog