PressClub South Africa · Article.
350 MINI Baby Racers on the way from the Allgäu to the Orient: potentially record-breaking, highly coveted and soon to be owned by children.
Tue May 07 10:00:00 CEST 2013 Press Release
First highlight of the 2013 Allgäu-Orient Rally – Participants of the alternative vintage and modern classics race form the world's longest convoy of children's cars in front of the "Blue Mosque" in Istanbul - Official record status applied for - MINI Baby Racers to be donated to children.
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Lindsay Pieterse
BMW Group
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Munich. Once again, the smallest were the greatest:
during their stopover at the Turkish capital of Istanbul, participants
of this year's Allgäu-Orient Rally caused a stir with a spectacular
event. They passed a test with a difference directly in front of the
"Blue Mosque", forming the world's longest ever convoy of
children's cars with 274 out of 350 MINI Baby Racers. To the applause
of numerous onlookers and under the supervision of a notary, the rally
drivers lined up in their purely muscle-powered vehicles behind the
MINI Cooper event organisers. Their efforts are to be rewarded with an
entry in the official world record lists. But after this the
record-breaking automobiles provided by MINI will be heading for
another mission. The MINI Baby Racers are to be donated to toddlers
from families in need at one of the subsequent stages along the rally
route in Jordan.
Alongside BMW Group Classic and BMW, MINI joins in for the first
time this year as a partner to this event which is not only regarded
as an exceptional adventure for the fans of vintage cars and modern
classics but also a particularly creative charity campaign. All rally
vehicles are auctioned off at the destination in Jordan to raise money
for charity. Thanks to a contact set up by Jordanian Princess Basmah
Bani Ahmad, the MINI Cooper in which the rally organisers are
travelling will go to a mobile midwife service. In addition to this,
individual campaigns will support social service organisations and
humanitarian projects at numerous stopover points along the route.
Many of the teams also use their publicity to make individual fund
appeals - not for themselves but for charities of their choice.
The MINI Baby Racers were handed out to all participating teams
at the start of the rally in Oberstaufen. The latter then set off for
south-eastern Europe with the little cars stowed in the luggage
compartment or strapped to a roof rack. And they all completed the
trip - despite the fact that many rally racers said they had been
approached by locals, tourists and even border guards keen to buy a
MINI Baby Racer off them. But the teams did not give in - after all,
the aim was to set a record and then watch children's eyes light up
with joy.
Part one of the mission has been fulfilled, part two is due to
follow in a few days' time. From Istanbul the rally route first goes
to Ankara and from there to the far south of Turkey. The entire rally
fleet will be crossing over from the port of Iskenderun by ferry to
Haifa, Israel. The MINI Baby Racers will reach their final destination
one day later, while the engine-powered rally vehicles still have
another leg of the route to cover. The rally finishing line is near
Aqaba in the Jordanian desert, where the winner will be named on May
17th. The rally can be followed online, too: the current position of
the red MINI Cooper transporting the organisers will be shown on the
website http://www.gps-live-tracking.com/allgaeu-orient-2013/team/?teamID=16&zoom=5¢erLat=47.100045¢erLon=32.958984.
The BMW Group
The BMW Group is the leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2012, the BMW Group sold about 1.85 million cars and more than 117,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2012 was euro 7.82 billion on revenues amounting to euro 76.85 billion. At 31 December 2012, the BMW Group had a workforce of 105,876 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last eight years.
The BMW Group
The BMW Group is the leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2012, the BMW Group sold about 1.85 million cars and more than 117,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2012 was euro 7.82 billion on revenues amounting to euro 76.85 billion. At 31 December 2012, the BMW Group had a workforce of 105,876 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last eight years.
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