New challenge for MINI at 2017 Baja Aragon - Round 7, FIA Cross Country Rally World cup.

Media Information

Baja Aragon

21 July 2017

New challenge for MINI at 2017 Baja Aragon - Round 7, FIA Cross Country Rally World cup.

• Two MINI John Cooper Works Rally tackle Baja Aragon
• Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) teams up with Andreas Schulz (GER)
• Jakub Kuba Przygonski (POL) and Xavier Panseri (FRA) join forces
• Orlando Terranova (ARG) ad Paulo Fiuza (PRT) compete in MINI ALL4 Racing.

Munich. A host of experienced drivers and navigators will take on the challenge of the Baja Aragon this weekend in Spain for Round 7 of the World Cup for FIA Cross Country Rallies.

Three MINI cars will be among the competitors at Aragon this weekend; two MINI John Cooper Works Rally crewed by Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) with co-driver Andreas Schulz (GER) and Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski (POL) with co-driver Xavier Panseri (FRA) and one MINI All 4 Racing driven by Orlando Terranova (ARG) with co-driver Paulo Fiuza (PRT).

While Hirvonen and Schulz are both experienced rally competitors, driving together is a new opportunity for the pair. As one of Germany’ most successful Dakar competitors, with two victories to his name in the world’s most challenging endurance race, Schulz was the perfect choice to support Hirvonen.

For Przygonski, who sits second in the 2017 World Cup rankings overall, despite missing the first three races, this is an opportunity to close the 36-point gap to the top of the leader board. He is joined by Panseri who has already enjoyed three Cross Country Rally podiums, including one win, this year.

Also contesting the event in a MINI ALL4 Racing will be Orlando Terranova (ARG) and Paulo Fiuza (PRT). Terranova completed this year’s Dakar Rally as the leading MINI competitor in sixth position and achieved a fifth place in the Baja Aragon last year.

This year’s event will take in a distance of 770.76km, including special stages of 544.31km raced against the clock around the city of Teruel. For the first time, the 2017 event will form part of the Dakar Challenge. With all three MINI drivers carrying the FIA Priority Drivers rating they will be subject to special regulations, allowing them to use only 12 tyres during the event.

Scrutineering and race action begins in Aragon today, with X-raid also still fielding competitors in the final two stages of the 2017 Silk Way Rally in China today and tomorrow.