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Avenue of the Giants Weekend Run - Sat. March 23, 2024

Saturday will be a very full day of cruising from Novato up through the Avenue of the Giants and ending at Eel River Brewing in Fortuna. Sun...

Monster Energy Sponsors Team To Race MINI All4 In 2011 Dakar Rally

A specially-developed MINI All4 Racing Car, driven by Dakar expert Guerlain Chicherit, will run the 2011 Dakar Rally under the Monster Energy X-Raid Team banner. The Dakar Rally, which used to be run in the deserts of Africa, now is run in the deserts of South America due to security concerns. According to AutoGuide.com the MINI All4 Racing car is part of a seven car team by X-raid, the largest one-team effort ever put forward in the legendary race. MotoringFile says the MINI All4 being used in the race is a twin-turbo diesel pushing 310 horsepower and twisting a massive 524 ft/lbs of torque. Motor Authority advises that the team's chief, Sven Quandt, is a member of the Quandt family which controls a 46 percent interest in BMW, MINI's corporate parent. It also indicates that:
The new X-Raid MINI All4 Racing was developed in cooperation with BMW and Magna Steyr, making it very nearly a factory effort--and therefore a fair preview of what we may expect of the WRC-intent MINIs, at least in terms of overall aesthetics and proportions.

The Rally starts January 1, 2011.