– Three Mini All4 Racing in the top 5
– A lot of bad luck in the final stage
This year’s Rallye OiLibya du Maroc was one of the most difficult ones ever and took both drivers and navigators to their very limits. After six exhausting days across Morocco, three MINI ALL4 Racing pairings secured top-five positions.
The Russians Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhilstsov came third in the desert rally, followed by Orlando Terranova (ARG) / Paulo Fiúza (POR) and Kuba Przygonski (POL) / Tom Coulsoul (BELG). Boris Garafulic (CHI) and Filipe Palmeiro (POR) finished seventh. Meanwhile, the two Mini All4 Racing pairings Yazeed Al-Rajhi (KSA) / Timo Gottschalk (GER) and Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) / Michel Périn (FRA) as well as Mohamed Abu Issa (QAT) and Philipp Beier (GER) in the buggy were forced into retirement in the final stage.
Vasilyev delivered in consistent style and made it to the top 10 in every single stage. While his rivals made several mistakes, the Russian contested the rally without encountering any major problems to finish third, in the end. “We are happy, the MINI ran very well,