We’ll have much more on the new JCW Countryman in the coming days. Until then click through for a full gallery and official release notes.

Official Release: The second generation of the MINI Countryman is the biggest and most versatile model in the entire range of the tradition-steeped British brand. And another superlative now applies to the power unit of the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman. With an output of 228 hp, it is the most powerful engine ever to be fitted in a MINI: in combination with the standard all-wheel drive system ALL4 and a robust vehicle concept, it ensures that the latest addition to the family of top John Cooper Works athletes takes the MINI experience to a whole new level – in terms of both race track feeling on the road and extreme driving fun over unsurfaced terrain.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman sprints from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds with both the standard 6-speed manual transmission and the optional 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic transmission. In doing so it is 0.8 to 0.9 seconds quicker than the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4. The superior performance qualities of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman are likewise reflected in its elasticity on interim sprints, cornering agility and deceleration performance. These qualities are the product of an overall package that has been compiled based on John Cooper Works racing expertise, including not just the engine and all-wheel drive system but also a sports suspension with 18-inch John Cooper Works light alloy wheels and Brembo sports brake system, special body features to optimize aerodynamic properties and cooling air intake, and a model-specific cockpit with John Cooper Works sports seats. The exceptional standing of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman within the premium compact segment is underscored by means of exclusive standard features including MINI Driving Modes, LED headlamps, Comfort Access keyless entry and a 6.5-inch screen with the MINI Connected infotainment system.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman: an overview of the facts and figures.

– 4-cylinder turbo engine with 228 hp and 258 ft lbs torque. – Efficiency-optimized all-wheel drive system ALL4 as standard. – Sports suspension with Brembo sports brake system and 18-inch light alloy wheels. – Engine, suspension and Aerodynamic harmonised based on John Cooper Works racing expertise. – Sprint from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, 0.8 seconds faster than the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4, maximum speed: 145 mph. – John Cooper Works Aerodynamic Kit with especially large air inlets at the front. – Model-specific interior with John Cooper Works sports seats. – Exclusive standard trim include LED headlamps, MINI Driving Modes and Comfort Access. – Five fully fledged seats, and a significant increase in space, luggage compartment size and versatility as compared to the predecessor model. – MINI Connected as a personal mobility assistant for everyday use and when traveling.

More power, more space and more race track feeling on all terrains.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman is the successor to the brand’s first top athlete designed for the compact segment and fitted as standard with the all- wheel drive system ALL4. The new car’s advancement over its predecessor is reflected not just in an output that is increased by 20 hp and the efficiency- optimized design of the ALL4 system but also in enlarged external dimensions and a considerable increase in space, versatility and functionality. With an addition of some 6.7 inches in length and 1.3 in width along with a wheelbase extension of 2.9 inches, space availability on the five fully fledged seats is now significantly optimized. The luggage compartment can be expanded as required from 17.6 cubic feet to as much as 47.6 cubic feet. This makes the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman a top athlete with all-round qualities that provides extreme driving fun and exceptional versatility – whether on the race track, away from freshly paved highways, in everyday traffic, or over lengthier distances.

World premiere in Shanghai, market launch in spring 2017.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman will be presented to the public for the first time in April 2017 at the Shanghai Motor Show. Vehicles will begin to arrive in U.S. dealerships in April 2017.

Developed from longstanding experience of race tracks and rally trails.

In addition to state-of-the-art technology, the distinctive character of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman is also derived from the brand’s longstanding and successful motor racing tradition. It was 55 years ago that the classic Mini clinched its first victory – when the Mini Cooper won the British Touring Car Championship. Since then the name of legendary sports car designer John Cooper has stood for the brand’s racing success and the extreme driving fun it offers on the road. Exactly 50 years after the last of three outright wins by the classic Mini at the Monte Carlo Rally, the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman now points the way to further success in this discipline. The new edition of this all-rounder provides the basis for the competition vehicle developed by MINI and the X-raid Team for long-distance rallies. The MINI John Cooper Works Rally is set to take on the challenges of the world’s toughest marathon contests, starting with the Dakar Rally in 2017. As such it succeeds the MINI ALL4 Racing, which was developed based on the first generation of the MINI Countryman and won the Dakar Rally four times in succession.

Perfectly harmonised overall package for top performance.

The John Cooper Works brand has been integrated under the MINI umbrella for ten years. This close connection dates back to the early years of the classic Mini, whose sporting talent was discovered and promoted by John Cooper. Today it impacts positively on the extreme driving enjoyment offered by the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman. The engine, transmission, all-wheel drive, suspension, Aerodynamic and cockpit design are not just geared towards top performance, they are also precisely harmonised with the vehicle concept of the new MINI Countryman. As a result, the latest John Cooper Works model is an overall package for thrilling performance, assembled with racing expertise.

Engine: power delivery and sound with racing character.

The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine installed transversely at the front of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman demonstrates performance characteristics inspired by motor racing. It has a specific version of MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology with a turbocharging system integrated in the cast steel manifold, petrol direct injection, the fully variable valve control system VALVETRONIC and variable camshaft control (double VANOS). Made of highly temperature-resistant material, the turbocharger generates a charge-air pressure which is now increased to 2.2 bar. This creates the basis for highly energetic and long-lasting power delivery. The engine puts its maximum torque of 258 ft lbs on stream at between 1 450 and 4 500 rpm. It delivers its peak output of 228 hp within an engine speed range of 5 000 and 6 000 rpm.

The particular features of the new engine developed for John Cooper Works models include specific pistons, a large charge-air cooler and an additional radiator. In addition there is a sports exhaust system that not only supports the engine’s performance characteristics but also gives them an impressive acoustic and visual dimension. Reduced exhaust gas pressure promotes spontaneous power delivery, while a controllable exhaust flap and the special geometry of the tailpipe help generate the highly emotional sound that is typical of John Cooper Works models. The sports exhaust system also has tapered chrome covers for the dual tailpipes. 6-speed manual transmission as standard, 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic transmission as an option.

The standard 6-speed manual transmission is weight-optimized in design as well as exhibiting a high level of internal efficiency and shift comfort. A gear sensor enables active engine speed adaptation for particularly dynamic shifting. Short shifts and the model-specific gear lever knob facilitate precise gear selection. An 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic transmissionis optionally available, operated by means of a distinctively designed selector lever as well as shift paddles at the steering wheel. It offers particularly short shift times and a Launch Control function for traction-optimized sprint maneuvers from standing. With ALL4 from the dirt road to the race track.

The performance capacity of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman is not just very high, it is also extremely versatile in terms of the potential range of uses. This is due to the ALL4 all-wheel drive system, which not only optimizes traction on unsurfaced terrain such as dirt roads but also enhances ride stability in adverse weather conditions and improves agility when taking bends dynamically on the race track. The system’s electronic control unit is linked to the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), ensuring a consistently fast and precise response at all times in distributing the drive torque between the front and rear wheels. Thanks to its compact and weight-optimized design, the current version of the ALL4 all-wheel drive system offers a particularly efficient form of variable power distribution. It consists of a power take-off bevel gear on the front axle differential, a dual-section propeller shaft and a rear axle differential with an electrohydraulically controlled hang-on clutch. In order to reduce the torque loss that occurs when drive power is transferred to the rear axle, the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman uses active DSC with the brand’s characteristic front- wheel drive in normal situations on the road. Only when necessary does the hang- on clutch relay drive torque to the rear wheels within a fraction of a second.

Sports chassis for maximum agility when sprinting, on bends and during braking maneuvers.

The high-quality suspension technology of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman offers the perfect basis for maximum performance and enthralling handling properties. It is designed to harmonise with the extremely high engine output of this versatile top athlete as well as its long wheelbase, large track and low centre of gravity. A single-joint spring strut axle at the front is combined with a multilink rear axle in a model-specific version. What is more, the optional sports suspension of the new MINI John Cooper Works Clubman features a particularly tight set-up of the suspension and damping systems. The speed-related Servotronic steering support – likewise a standard feature – promotes precise handling on bends and comfortable maneuvering at low speeds.

The sports brake system was designed in collaboration with specialist manufacturer Brembo and comprises 4-piston fixed-calliper disc brakes on the front wheels, guaranteeing consistently high deceleration rates even when subjected to intense use. The brake callipers are finished in red and bear the John Cooper Works logo at the front. The Dynamic Stability Control system also ensures optimum traction on sprints, agility on bends and safe deceleration. Its functions include Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) – which acts as an electronic locking function for the front axle differential – and Performance Control for agile turning when taking bends at speed. The standard trim also includes 18-inch John Cooper Works light alloy wheels in Black Thrill Spoke. John Cooper Works 19” light alloy wheels are optionally available.

MINI Driving Modes and Dynamic Damper Control enable an individualised vehicle set-up.

The standard MINI Driving Modes enable a vehicle set-up that is geared towards both the situation on the road and the driver’s individual preferences. A rotary switch at the base of the gear or selector lever is used to activate the settings SPORT, MID and GREEN. This influences the characteristic curves of the accelerator pedal and steering, the engine acoustics, the shift characteristics of the 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic transmission, if the latter is fitted, and the Dynamic Damper Control set-up. The characteristics of the electronically controlled dampers are geared to a particularly dynamic driving style in SPORT mode and support a more comfort-oriented style in the other two modes. GREEN mode is designed for comfortable yet efficiency-optimized driving. A supporting feature here is the coasting function, which can be used in conjunction with the 8- speed Steptronic Sport Automatic transmission. In GREEN mode, the drivetrain is decoupled at speeds above 35 mph as soon as the driver’s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal.

Exterior: a clear indication of versatile athleticism.

The exterior design of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman expresses the model’s distinctive combination of extreme athleticism and exceptional versatility. With a length of 169.8 inches, a width of 71.7 inches and a height of 61.3 inches, it is unmistakably the biggest top athlete in the family of John Cooper Works models. The typical proportions of a dynamic all-round sports car are further emphasised by model-specific features, in particular including the John Cooper Works Aerodynamic Kit. Key elements of the car’s powerful appearance include the large cooling inlets in the front apron, which take up the space normally reserved for parking lights and fog lamps in other variants of the new MINI Countryman. The standard roof rails and the model-specific roof spoiler underscore both the height of the body and the fact that its design is geared towards optimum aerodynamic balance.

The side turn indicator surrounds known as side scuttles bear a red accentuation line and the John Cooper Works logo, as does the hexagon radiator grille with characteristic honeycomb pattern; the logo also appears on the tailgate. There are four non-metallic and six metallic variants to choose from for the body finish of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman. Here, Rebel Green is an option reserved exclusively for John Cooper Works models as is the contrasting paint finish for the roof and exterior mirror caps in Chili Red.

Interior: more space for racing passion.

Inside the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, the versatile performance qualities can be experienced on five fully fledged seats and in a characteristic sports car atmosphere. In addition to John Cooper Works sports seats with integrated headrests, features such as the John Cooper Works sports steering wheel with multifunction buttons, the John Cooper Works gear or selector lever and the roof liner in anthracite all contribute to the car’s intense feeling of racing flair.

A distinctive cockpit design is combined with optimized space and a high degree of versatility. Head, shoulder and leg room are significantly more generous than in the predecessor model, both at the front and the rear. The rear seats can be shifted longitudinally by up to 5.1 inches in a 60 : 40 split, while additional versatility is provided by backrest elements that are tilt-adjustable and foldable in a 40 : 20 : 40 split. One unique option for pit stops in distinctive MINI style is the Picnic Cushion, a flexible surface that folds out of the luggage compartment and provides seating for two people.

Exceptional athlete with exclusive fittings.

The exceptional standing of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman both in the premium compact segment and the brand’s model program is underscored by its exclusive equipment items. The standard LED headlamps optimize visibility when driving in the dark as well as giving the appearance of the car’s front section a striking contour. The daytime driving light is generated by a band of light running entirely around each headlamp, likewise using LED technology. Standard features also include panorama glass roof, Comfort Access keyless entry, rear Park Distance Control parking sensors, rearview camera, and the MINI Connected infotainment system with a 6.5-inch screen in the central instrument that displays a start motif specific to John Cooper Works when the driver gets in the car.

Modern driver assistance systems, high-quality options for comfort and individual style.

The driver assistance systems developed for the current model generation enhance comfort and safety in the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, too. The optional Driving Assistant system includes collision warning with city braking function, camera-based active cruise control, pedestrian warning with initial brake function, high beam assistant and road sign detection. Other features to choose from include Park Distance Control with sensors at the front and Parking Assistant with automatic steering for parallel parking maneuvers. In addition to information on speed, speed limits, current navigation directions, feedback from the driver assistance systems, and lists of telephone contacts and entertainment programs, it is also possible to display the currently selected gear and a multi- coloured engine speed scale on the special John Cooper Works Head-Up Display.

Central instrument with touchscreen, MINI Find Mate and MINI County Timer.

Other options include the Harman Kardon hi-fi audio system, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen navigation system. The touchscreen navigation system also comes with the Touch Controller in the center console and MINI Find Mate, one of the latest digital services to be added to MINI Connected. MINI Find Mate consists of two tags with a wireless Bluetooth tracking function that can be attached to commonly used objects and travel items, enabling them to be conveniently located via MINI Connected. If the tag is located outside the wireless range, the most recently registered position is displayed on the on-board computer and on the driver’s smartphone. As soon as the smartphone or vehicle moves back into the tag’s wireless range, the tag can be activated and acoustically located.

MINI Connected, the digital personal mobility assistant.

The new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman also demonstrates fascinating performance and great versatility in the area of connectivity. Going beyond the familiar functions of an in-car infotainment program, MINI Connected acts as a personal mobility assistant in the top athlete of the model range, too. Based on a flexible platform, the Open Mobility Cloud, MINI Connected integrates the vehicle seamlessly into the MINI driver’s digital life via touchpoints such as the Apple iPhone and Apple Watch. Thanks to the integral concept of MINI Connected, mobility doesn’t start in the vehicle. MINI Connected informs the driver of the optimum departure time based on calendar entries and current traffic data. Address data and appointments saved by the driver previously on a smartphone via MINI Connected are automatically transferred to the car and do not have to be entered in the navigation system again. MINI Connected can also save regularly visited places as favourite destinations, and it detects frequently covered routes such as the daily run between home and work so as to be able to inform the driver in the event of unexpected traffic delays.

Munich (DE). Vladimir Vasilyev and his co-driver Konstantin Zhiltsov in the MINI ALL4 Racing have won stage five at the 2015 Dakar Rally. The two Russians, who won the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies in the MINI ALL4 Racing in 2014, turned out to be the best navigators on the challenging 458 kilometre long special stage, moving up four places in the overall classification. They are now in a strong seventh position.

Nasser Al-Attiyah/Mathieu Baumel (QT/FR) were fourth quickest today and extended their lead in the overall classification. The experienced offroad duo, which finished 3rd overall last year, is now 10:35 minutes ahead of their closest rivals De Villiers/Von Zitzewitz.

On leg five the Dakar had to master the unforgivable Atacama Desert in Chile. The 697 kilometre-long route lead from Copiapo to Antofagasta. The special stage was held on loose gravel as well as huge dunes with extremely fine “fesh fesh” sand at an altitude of up to 3,000 metres above sea level. The constantly changing soil was extremely demanding for the tires, thus a lot of drivers suffered tire failures.

Six MINI ALL4 Racing finish within the top ten

MINI made the best out of the tough conditions and finished the day on a high note: Six MINI ALL4 Racing cars were within the top ten, including Krzysztof Holowczyc/Xavier Panseri (PL/FR) who were seventh quickest and moved up to fourth place overall. Joan ”Nani” Roma (ES) and his co-driver Michel Périn (FR) finished in 8th position.

Erik van Loon/Wouter Rosegaar (NL/NL) were in ninth moving up another place in the overall classification. They are now in an excellent fifth position. Orlando Terranova/Bernardo Graue (AR/AR) in the MINI ALL4 Racing completed the top ten today.

Leg six on Friday will lead from Antofagasta further north to Iquique. The 277 kilometre long stage six will be comparatively short but very intense. The drivers have to master large dunes with fine sand again. Navigation will be the key factor to success as many of the dunes will look the same.

Overall classification after leg 5 (Top 5)

01 Al-Attiyah/Baumel – MINI ALL4 Racing – 16:53:26h
02 De Villiers/Von Zitzewitz – 17:04:01h
03 Al Rajhi/Gottschalk – 17:13:55h
04 Holowczyc/Panseri – MINI ALL4 Racing – 17:42:21h
05 Van Loon/Rosegaar – MINI ALL4 Racing – 17:46:51h

MINI Motorsport

With several new and reinstated stages, the Dakar Rally is the ultimate challenge for those taking part. From merciless gravel sections to the breathtaking heights of the Andes, and from the sweltering heat of the Atacama Desert to the tricky soft sand dunes, competitors are often heading into the unknown, facing unforeseen obstacles.

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The Dakar Rally is the ultimate orienteering challenge and endurance test. Drivers lose (on average) an enormous 65 litres of sweat and 66,300 calories during the entire race*. The key to a team’s success is their stamina and experience, with no driver under the age of 35 ever having won the race. In fact, over half of those who enter don’t finish the race.

For 2015, the world’s toughest race is going back to its origins, opening up the exhausting marathon stage to all classes for the first time since the rally moved to South America in 2009. This gruelling leg of the race, which takes place in Bolivia, is two whole race days where competitors are left to fend for themselves. The participants cannot call upon their support teams during this time and have to carry out any repairs and maintenance work to the cars themselves.

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The participating pairs, drivers and their co-drivers, have a lot of unique skills the Rally puts to the test. Unlike standard rallying, the crews in the Dakar Rally don’t know the route until the night before when the co-driver is given his Roadbook. The Roadbook is the key to the race with the route, dangers highlighted and the different terrains the car must negotiate included.

Dakar legends, Nani Roma and his experienced co-driver Michel Périn, a four-time Dakar winner himself, are aiming to defend their crowns as the ‘Kings of Dakar’ in the black and green MINI ALL4 Racing car.

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Nani Roma said: “The Dakar Rally is the most physically and mentally challenging rally in the world. After doing it 18 times it runs through my blood. Winning the 2014 Dakar Rally in the MINI ALL4 Racing was very special to me because it came exactly ten years after my first Dakar victory,” says Roma who also won the 2004 Dakar Rally on a motorcycle.

“The MINI ALL4 Racing has been strong from start to finish. It is the way we know the MINI to be: powerful, reliable and fast. It has been a key factor in making my most recent Dakar victory possible. It will be a pleasure to be back in the MINI as I am looking forward to the 2015 Dakar Rally – ready to defend my title.”

Official Release Small car, huge win: it is now 50 years since one of the most spectacular victories in the history of international motor sport. On 21 January 1964, the Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time. It was the pairing of Northern Ireland’s Patrick (“Paddy”) Hopkirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon that pulled off the big surprise, resisting the supposed superiority of significantly more powerful rivals in their small British car. Its faultless run over country roads and mountain passes, ice and snow, tight corners and steep gradients laid the foundations for the underdog-turned-giant-slayer to cement itself in both the hearts of the public and the annals of motor sport legend. Indeed, the classic Mini’s dominance of the Monte Carlo Rally continued over the years that followed, Hopkirk’s Finnish team-mates Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen adding two further overall victories – in 1965 and 1967 – to the British manufacturer’s collection.

Now 80 years old, Paddy Hopkirk’s eyes still light up when he recalls the driving qualities of his winning car: “Although the Mini was only a little family saloon, technically it had a lot of advantages. Its front-wheel drive and front-mounted transverse engine were a great advantage, and the fact the car was smaller and the roads were ploughed, they were quite narrow, so I suppose that was an advantage. We were very lucky – the car was right, everything happened at the right time and came together at the right moment.”

It was the legendary “Night of the Long Knives”, the penultimate stage of the Monte, which put the Mini Cooper S with car number 37 and the now famous licence plate 33 EJB on course for victory that winter of 1964. Hopkirk crossed the finish line just 17 seconds off the pace set by his chief adversary Bo Ljungfeldt in the far more powerful V8-powered Ford Falcon. The handicap formula at the time – designed to even out the weight and power differences between the various cars – meant the classic Mini actually led the way in the overall standings. And Hopkirk defended his advantage in the sprint through the streets of Monte Carlo that rounded off the rally. At the winner’s ceremony he shared the cheers of the crowed with his team-mates. Timo Mäkinen’s fourth-place finish and Rauno Aaltonen’s seventh overall set the seal on the success of the Mini Cooper S and ushered in the era of the “Three Musketeers” in the Monte Carlo Rally.

The classic Mini’s victory was celebrated with particular excitement in its native Britain. Hopkirk received a congratulatory telegram from the British government and the Beatles were also among those leading the applause. “I got a telegram from the Beatles,” remembers Hopkirk. “That was followed by a photograph of the four of them autographed to me saying: ‘You’re one of us now, Paddy.’ And it’s very nice to have that nowadays.”

The triumph of the classic Mini in the Monte was lauded as a sensation by motor sport fans around the world. But this wasn’t a success that came entirely out of the blue: the small car developed by Alec Issigonis, then Deputy Technical Director at the British Motor Corporation, possessed an inherent sporting talent from birth. The first person to spot this potential was John Cooper. The sports car designer was the driving force behind construction of a more powerful version of the car. The Mini produced only 34 hp at launch, but its front-wheel drive, low weight, wide track and comparatively long wheelbase made it an extremely agile four-seater and paved the way for its forays onto race circuits and rally courses.

As early as 1960, big-name racing drivers like Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Jim Clark were spotted testing the cornering flair of the John Cooper-tuned small car on the Silverstone Formula One track. However, the classic Mini was most at home in rally racing. Patt Moss, sister of grand prix driver Stirling Moss, piloted it to wins in the Tulip Rally and Baden-Baden Rally in 1962. And by the following year, the diminutive British car was ready to burst into the public consciousness at the Monte Carlo Rally. Preceding years had been a tough learning experience for the works team, but now they would make people sit up and take notice. Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk drove the 55 hp Mini Cooper to a 1-2 finish in their class, which was good enough for third and sixth places overall.

It was clear that the classic Mini was better equipped than any other car to pull off the classic David vs Goliath act. John Cooper had long suspected that the car had what it took. Back in 1959 he instructed Roy Salvadori to drive a prototype to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The journey itself turned into a race between Salvadori and fellow racing driver Reg Parnell at the wheel of an Aston Martin DB4. The result confirmed what Cooper had foreseen in his mind’s eye: the Cooper-prepared classic Mini arrived around an hour earlier than the much more powerful Aston.

Identifiable from a distance with their tartan red bodywork and white roofs, the six small racers dispatched by the BMC works team for the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964 were – at least on paper – fighting against the tide once more. The Mini Cooper S lined up at the start for the first time. Its new four-cylinder engine now had an increased 1071cc capacity and output had also been boosted to around 90 hp. This was a lot more than in previous years but still modest in the face of competition from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and Ford Falcon, whose six-cylinder and V8 units had three or four times more power at their disposal.

The 33rd edition of the Monte Carlo Rally began – as was traditional at the time – with a nod to the origins of the event, the cars starting from nine European cities before converging on the French city of Reims. The Hopkirk/Liddon partnership got their journey with the Mini Cooper S under way in Minsk, while for Rauno Aaltonen and Tony Ambrose the Monte adventure started in Oslo, and Timo Mäkinen and Patrick Vanson set off from Paris. The classic Mini successfully negotiated all these journeys and all six works cars were able to take their place in the 277-strong field in Reims. The first stage of the rally to Saint-Claude brought together the two cars which were to define the 1964 Monte from start to finish. Bo Ljungfeldt roared to the top of the time sheets in his Ford Falcon, but Paddy Hopkirk remained hot on his heels in his Mini Cooper S.

The next leg of the rally was made up largely of mile-long flat-out sections, but Hopkirk refused to let his big-engined rivals build up a decisive advantage. The “Night of the Long Knives” would become the day of reckoning; this was the classic Mini’s chance to demonstrate its talents to the full. “It was quite snowy that year, so we had done a lot of practising and preparing,” explains Hopkirk. “The Mini was particularly good downhill, and all the tests were up and downhill, so what we lost going up, I think we made up for going downhill.”

Irresistible handling, correct tyre choice, Hopkirk’s gifts at the wheel and the snow – which slowed the bigger cars down – all came together and ensured that Hopkirk was able to take over the lead on the 1,607-metre (5,270 ft) Col de Turini. However, it remained a tight contest all the way to the finish, with Bo Ljungfeldt, as expected, again posting the fastest time on the final stage through Monte Carlo. However, Hopkirk was also squeezing everything from his Mini Cooper S once again and hung onto his advantage to wrap up the win. “It’s not like rallying today when you know where you are. I had to do the final circuit, then the journalists told me I had won and I couldn’t believe it. It surprised the world and us, so it was very nice,” recalls Hopkirk.

The following year Timo Mäkinen and co-driver Paul Easter ensured the classic Mini would retain its title. They were helped by a new engine with capacity increased to 1275cc, but it was the Scandinavian’s driving skill that landed the decisive blow. Mäkinen was the only driver to remain penalty-point-free throughout the rally distance, despite the fact that the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally was providing one of the most exacting tests in the history of the event. Epic levels of snow and ice made the going seriously tough, but that didn’t stop the organisers including a second night stage through the Maritime Alps in the programme. Mäkinen and his Mini Cooper S appeared impervious to the deteriorating conditions. The Finn won five of the six special stages on the final leg of the rally and finished the event with a handsome margin over the second-placed car.

The most impressive and also most dramatic Monte Carlo Rally for the “Three Musketeers” was to follow in 1966. Mäkinen, Aaltonen and Hopkirk dominated the event from the start, and it was in this order that they completed a clean sweep of the top three positions overall at the finish. Public enthusiasm for the quicksilver classic Minis appeared to be boundless – as was the disappointment when the French race commissioners revealed their decision to disqualify the trio on account of lights that allegedly did not conform with official regulations. This was also the reason given for removing the fourth-placed Lotus Cortina from the classification, which meant that the Finnish Citroën driver Pauli Toivonen was crowned the winner.

The dream of a Monte hat-trick lay in tatters, but the “Three Musketeers” resolved to return at the earliest opportunity. In the winter of 1967 Hopkirk, Mäkinen and Aaltonen lined up alongside two other BMC works teams for the Monte Carlo Rally. And this time neither the rules nor the other cars could stand between the Mini Cooper S and victory. Rauno Aaltonen was joined by Henry Liddon – Paddy Hopkirk’s co-driver from the successful 1964 Monte – for his latest assault on the rally. The Finnish-British team clicked straight into gear. Aaltonen guided the classic Mini to what was this time an undisputed victory with 12 seconds to spare. And nobody was more pleased for the duo than Hopkirk: “Henry Liddon was really an outstanding co-driver. But the co-drivers never got enough credit, you know. They did a fantastic job in reading the notes and they were the office manager of the car.”

Hopkirk finished the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally in sixth place and also drove the classic Mini to fifth overall the following year. Aaltonen was third in 1968. However, the era of the small car that stormed to the summit of rally racing was clearly approaching an end. Its rivals had grown just too powerful and the sporting zenith of the classic Mini was now behind it. Memories of that famous triumph in the winter of 1964 will forever burn bright and the “Three Musketeers” have written an indelible chapter into the history of motor sport. As for distinctive headlight solutions, such as incurred the wrath of the powers-that-be back in 1966, they also live on as some of the most popular Original MINI Accessories – from black headlight housing and the evocative spotlights fronting the radiator grille to retrofit xenon headlights.

Official Release: He has done it! Joan “Nani” Roma (ES) in the yellow MINI ALL4 Racing has won the 2014 Dakar Rally. The Monster Energy X-raid Team driver finished the toughest rally challenge in the world just 5:32 minutes in front of his teammate Stéphane Peterhansel (FR) in the black MINI ALL4 Racing. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QT) in the predominantly white MINI ALL4 Racing finished 3rd. The podium was firmly in hand of the MINI cars, which once again proved to be reliable and fast throughout the whole event.

It was the first win for Nani Roma in a car at the Dakar Rally. The Spaniard had already won the event on a motorbike when it was still held in North Africa in 2004. “I’m so relieved and happy,” Roma said. “It was my big goal to win the Dakar not only on a motorbike but also in a car. A dream came true for me and I want to thank everybody at X-raid and MINI for their great work!”

Roma, who has been leading the overall classification at this year’s event for nine days, winning two stages in total, continued: “The MINI ALL4 Racing is a brilliant car and was extremely reliable and quick throughout the whole rally. It was fun to drive! Also a big thank you to my co-driver Michel Périn, who was a great navigator again! A great result for MINI, now it’s time to celebrate!”

The 2014 Dakar Rally was one of the toughest of all time. The 9,374 km-long route led from Rosario (AR) across the Andes and the challenging Atacama desert to Valparaíso (CL) at the Pacific coast. The drivers had to face a lot of different weather conditions and soils. Gravel in the Andes and a lot of extremely fine sand in the hot Atacama desert. MINI mastered all the challenges and won 11 of the 13 stages. It was the third win in a row since MINI made its debut at the Dakar Rally in 2011.

The great reliability of the MINI ALL4 Racing, which is based on the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, was underlined by the fact that all eleven cars that had started into the event crossed the finish line in Valparaíso. Seven of them finished in the top-ten, including the ones of Monster Energy X-raid Team Orlando Terranova/Paulo Fiúza (AR/PT), who finished 5th overall, and Krzysztof Holowczyc/Konstantin Zhiltsov (PL/RU), who crossed the line 6th overall.

MINI at the 2014 Dakar Rally.
A total of eleven MINI ALL4 Racing compete in the 2014 Dakar. All are based on the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, modified by the factory-supported X-raid Team to meet the high demands of the Dakar Rally which is today’s pinnacle of off-road motorsports. With a combination of power, reliability and efficiency the MINI ALL4 Racing proved its competiveness right from its first Dakar start in 2011 while also winning the hearts of the fans from the word go. On only its second Dakar appearance, the MINI ALL4 Racing made the big breakthrough by winning the 2012 Dakar Rally. In 2013 the MINI brand proved that its Dakar success was no flash in the pan by defending its title at the first attempt.

Source: MINI

Meanwhile Nasser Al-Attiyah (QT) in his predominantly white MINI ALL4 Racing put the icing on the cake for the X-raid Team and the MINI brand. By finishing the day seventh, Al-Attiyah climbed to third in the overall classification. So the MINI brand holds a one-two-three overall with Roma in first, Orlando Terranova (AR), who finished fourth for the day, in second and Al-Attiyah in third heading into the fourth competitive Dakar day. “It was a good day for us, and leading the Dakar Rally definitely feels great,” says Roma. “We know that the race for the 2014 Dakar title is still a long one. But today gives us an extra motivation.”

Day four will see the longest special stage at the Dakar Rally since the historic route from Zouerat to Tichit (both MR) in 2005. The drivers must cross rivers, negotiate ravines, and be wary of the opposition. The route on day four features expansive spaces, making overtaking relatively easy. At the same time, the special stage to Chilecito (AR) is also the longest on the 2014 Dakar for the cars.

Source: MINI

On a snowy ramp in Tignes, France, aptly-described daredevil Guerlain Chicherit successfully backflipped a MINI Countryman racing car. MINI teased this stunt back in January, but neglected to show us how the landing went in that port-side attempt. Call me skeptical, but I imagine that if the landing had gone as planned, we’d have seen it. Forgetting the earlier attempts, now MINI is showing us the whole stunt gone well. Video after the jump.

What makes the stunt remarkable is not that it’s a backflip, but that it’s an unassisted backflip. There was no stunt “kick” built into the bottom of the car to get it rotated all the way around. The car did it all on its own, or at least, fully on the shape of the ramp. It’s one hell of a stunt no matter how you do it, so kudos to MINI and Guerlain Chicherit for pulling it off.

It could hardly get any more exciting. Thursday was a flawless day for Stéphane Peterhansel’s closest rival for the overall lead at the 2013 Dakar Rally. Nasser Al-Attiyah set the fastest time on each section of the sixth leg to secure the stage win. In doing so he gradually ate into Stéphane’s lead in the overall classification until it was down to just 45 seconds shortly before the end of the stage. Then came the final sprint! Everyone in the X-raid Team held their breath as they waited to see who would start day seven of the Dakar leading the car competition.

Then the final times flashed up onto the monitor, and the winner was: Stéphane Peterhansel in the MINI ALL4 Racing. Al-Attiyah was 1:18 minutes back. Although Al-Attiyah was able to play out the weight and performance advantages of his buggy, which were permitted following the organisers’ amendments to the rules that came into force before the start of the Dakar, Stéphane was able to hold his own in the green MINI ALL4 Racing and clocked the second fastest time at the final checkpoints. As such, the battle for the overall lead at the toughest rally in the world is more open than ever. Dakar fans have more thrilling days ahead of them.

Roma in the sand, Novitskiy consistent
Yesterday’s winner Nani Roma benefitted from the time he made good on Wednesday’s fifth stage. Although the Spaniard in the yellow MINI ALL4 Racing got stuck in the fine dune sand 75 kilometres into the stage, losing valuable time in the process, he only dropped two places in the standings. Nani starts Friday at the Dakar from seventh place, just 14:26 minutes off the top five. Leonid Novitskiy in the orange MINI, on the other hand, is still among the top five drivers in the field. His consistent performance on Thursday saw him maintain his fourth place.

The highest and fastest special stage of the whole rally awaits the competitors on Friday. Almost the entire route of the special stage is at more than 3,400 metres above sea level. The organisers estimate the average speed at over 110 km/h. The route is dominated by long straights and a hard surface as it makes its way towards the finish in Salta. 218 kilometres are against the clock. It all gets underway at 12:51 local time in Chile. As always, you can find all the latest information at Twitter.com/MINImotorsport andFacebook.com/MINImotorsport.com.

Top 5 (after Stage 6):

1. Peterhansel
2. Al-Attiyah
3. de Villiers
4. Novitskiy
5. Chicherit

[Source: MINI]

The 2013 Dakar Rally has started. After a ceremonial start in Peru’s capital city Lima, the competitors faced a liaison section of around 250 kilometres before they could really go full throttle. The subsequent, short 13 kilometre timed stage was more of a sprint, though, than the remaining 13 marathons sections which are still ahead of the competitors. Just three per cent of the total distance 8.574 kilometres has only been completed.

Fired up by thousands of Dakar fans, Stéphane Peterhansel headed the field of MINI ALL4 Racings entered by the X-raid Team to end the day with a 34 second deficit on leader Carlos Sainz. As times on the opening stage are multiplied by a factor of three, Stéphane is officially 1:42 minutes behind the pacesetter. However, the reigning Dakar champion enjoys rearward cover provided by team-mates Leonid Novitskiy and Krzysztof Holowczyc in seventh and eighth place, respectively. Nani Roma holds a provisional tenth place overall.

Does the day’s result reflect a shift in the balance of power after revisions to the technical regulations, which endow the buggies with a performance advantage over the MINI ALL4 Racings? All or nothing for the X-raid Team? Still too early to judge. True, Carlos Sainz in P1 and Nasser Al-Attiyah in P3 are driving buggies. However, extremely short stages such as the opening test generally have little impact on the overall result. The next three stages, which traverse the extended dunes found between Pisco, Nazca and Arequipa, are expected to provide a truer picture of the actual situation.

The Dakar has started, but the rally only gets underway in earnest on Sunday, which features an 85-kilometre stage winding around the city of Pisco, starting 10.11 am local time (CET +6 hours). Keep up to speed with the latest news about the X-raid Team on the 2013 Rallye Dakar via Twitter.com/MINImotorsport and Facebook.com/MINImotorsport.

Top 5 (after Stage 1): 1. Sainz, 2. Alvarez, 3. Al-Attiyah, 4. Chiherit, 5. Chabot.