German-Russian pairing Leonid Novitskiy / Andi Schulz in the orange Monster Energy X-raid MINI All4 Racing being particularly happy. After all, they celebrated their maiden special-stage win in a Dakar Rally. Courtesy of MINI Motorsport

Mar del Plata, Argentina - January 1, 2012

The X-raid Team started the 2012 Rally Dakar in style, with three MINI ALL4 Racing drivers ending day one at the top of the car rankings.

Imagine taking a three-goal lead in the opening few minutes of a football match – it could hardly get any better: this is the position the X-raid Team finds itself in at the end of the opening day of the 2012 Rally Dakar.

Beginning in Argentina and ending 9000 kilometers away in Peru, the 2012 Dakar Rally will be the ultimate endurance test of man and machine. Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

With three MINI ALL4 Racings occupying the top three places, the X-raid Team is sitting pretty at the top of the car rankings.

Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

Record Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel (France), who was the third man to accelerate away from the starting line, set an excellent time of 32:21 minutes over the 57 classified kilometres of the opening special stage.

Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

However, Krzysztof Hołowczyc (Poland) soon went even faster to earn a four-second lead over Stéphane – wow!

X-raid Team. MINI ALL4 Racing drivers Courtesy of MINI Motorsport

Then up stepped Leonid Novitskiy (Russia), who was clearly enjoying himself in the orange MINI ALL4 Racing with start number 312.

Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc and his Belgian navigator Jean-Marc Fortin in the ORLEN MINI ALL4 Racing. Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

The clock stopped at 32:12 minutes as he crossed the finish line.

Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

This gave Novitskiy the best time of the day and a five-second lead over team-mate Krzysztof Holowczyc, as well as ensuring that the top three places went to the X-raid Team.

Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc and his Belgian navigator Jean-Marc Fortin in the ORLEN MINI ALL4 Racing. Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

"Today's stage was short, so we really put our foot down – particularly in the sandy section," said Leonid.
"In short: a good result and a perfect day."

Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc and his Belgian navigator Jean-Marc Fortin in the ORLEN MINI ALL4 Racing. Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

However, Krzysztof and Stéphane were also happy with their day's work.

… Krzysztof Holowczyc … Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

Krzysztof Hołowczyc (Poland):
"We had no problems today and the MINI did the rest for us. Let's see how we get on in the dunes, but the car will pretty much take them on single-handedly."

German-Russian pairing Leonid Novitskiy / Andi Schulz in the X-raid MINI ALL4 Racing. Courtesy of MINI Motorsport

"An excellent warm-up," said Stéphane, who managed to take in some of the scenery, even in the heat of battle. And what was the nine-time Dakar winner's opinion:
"The route was wonderful. Big dunes right next to the ocean. Fantastic."

French pairing Stéphane Peterhansel / Jean-Paul Cottret in the MINI ALL4 Racing coming third. Courtesy of MINI Motorsport

The trio in the MINI ALL4 Racings will be hoping for that day two of the Rally Dakar will be equally fantastic when the action kicks off at 07:00hrs local time in Argentina, as the first cars leave the Parc Fermé.

French pairing Stéphane Peterhansel / Jean-Paul Cottret in the MINI ALL4 Racing coming third. Courtesy of MINI Motorsport

The route from Santa Rosa de la Pampa to San Rafael is 777 kilometres long, of which 290 kilometres will be timed.

Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc and his Belgian navigator Jean-Marc Fortin in the ORLEN MINI ALL4 Racing coming second. Courtesy of MINI Motorsport

The first car is expected at the finish in San Rafael at about 15:14 local time.

Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc and his Belgian navigator Jean-Marc Fortin in the ORLEN MINI ALL4 Racing coming second. Courtesy of MINI Motorsport

The field will once again start on relatively solid ground, before taking on the foothills of a series of volcanic black sand dunes.

A hattrick to start the Dakar with. Courtesy of MINI Motorsport

The route is a challenging one, as experienced by defending champions Nasser Al Attiyah and Alfie Cox on day one.

Ranking Overall at Stage 1: Mar Del Plata – Santa Rosa De La Pampa. Courtesy of Dakar.com

Al Attiyah struggled with technical problems, while Cox's vehicle went up in flames.

Stéphane Peterhansel, the Monster Energy X-Raid MINI ALL4 Racing Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

Thankfully, Cox and his co-driver were unhurt.

Krzysztof Holowczyc (Poland), the ORLEN X-Raid MINI ALL4 Racing. Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

Leonid, Krzysztof and Stéphane will aim to extend their lead over the rest of the field on Monday, while the remaining two MINI ALL4 Racing crews lurk just off the lead.

Krzysztof Holowczyc (Poland), the ORLEN X-Raid MINI ALL4 Racing. Courtesy of Monster Energy X-Raid / YouTube

Ricardo Leal dos Santos is currently tenth, with Nani Roma in thirteenth place.

Throughout the Rally Dakar, you can keep up to speed with the latest news from the X-raid Team and the five MINI ALL4 Racings on the MINI Motorsport Twitter channel.


Source: MINI Motorsport

http://www.minimotorsport.com/en/news/  



Video
Monster Energy X-Raid team attacks the start of the 2012 Dakar Rally!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7z2WIfxPCI  


Video
Ready for Dakar 2012 -- Monster Energy X-raid Team

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Gop9M1WLY#!  



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