Mini revolution expected in Dakar Rally
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A mechanic inspects a Mini belonging to France's Stephane Peterhansel and Jean Paul Cottret before the technical verification exercise for the Dakar Rally 2013 at Magdalena beach in Lima on Jan 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
LIMA, Peru (AP) - Stephane Peterhansel has too much respect for the Dakar Rally to consider another victory by him or his teammates in Minis a certainty.
Few, though, are betting against Peterhansel or one of the drivers of the five other Minis entered by German team X-raid from winning the world's toughest rally starting on Saturday in Peru for the first time.
Last year, X-raid Minis came first and second, and all five placed in the top 10.
This time, X-raid manager Sven Quandt has entered six Minis, and a BMW for good measure, to press their domination, but three drivers are favourites: Peterhansel of France, Nani Roma of Spain and Krzysztof Holowczyc of Poland.
