Mini has unveiled the new force it plans to unleash in the 2018 Dakar Rally, one of the toughest motorsport events in the world, taking place from January 6, 2018 to January 20, 2018. And this force is none other than the John Cooper Works Buggy. Developed in partnership with X-Raid, this all-new rally vehicle is a rear-wheel-drive, as opposed to the all-wheel-drive system of the Mini John Cooper Works Rally car, though it draws power from the same 3-litre inline six-cylinder diesel engine producing 335bhp and a massive 800Nm of torque. The gearbox, drivetrain and turbocharger have been developed from scratch. The Buggy has already been rigorously tested by Mini and X-Raid in varying off-road terrains of Hungary and Morocco. Apart from the Buggy, Mini will also be competing with the tested and proven JCW Rally car—which Mini believes is equally capable of winning the Rally as the JCW Buggy. The JCW Buggy will compete in the 2018 Dakar Rally with seven cars and a team of experienced drivers and co-drivers. The JCW Buggies will be driven by Mikko Hirvonen (Finland), Bryce Menzies (USA) and Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Saudi Arabia).
