– Fourth place for Kuba Przygonski
– Five MINI in the top 10
The X-raid MINI JCW Rally Team celebrated a fine second place at the Dakar Rally for Joan Nani Roma and Alex Haro (both ESP) in the MINI John Cooper Works Rally. Roma’s performance was characterized by a high level of consistency.
Reigning FIA World Cup champions Jakub Kuba Przygonski (POL) and Tom Colsoul (BEL) just missed out on the podium, finishing in fourth place, his best result in the Car category at the Dakar. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (KSA) and Timo Gottschalk (GER) also ended the rally in the top ten, finishing in seventh place. They were joined in the top ten by Boris Garafulic (CHI) and Filipe Palmeiro (POR) in ninth. Fellow MINI driver Cyril Despres finished fifth in the MINI JCW Buggy, making it five MINI in the top ten! Orlando Terranova and Bernardo Ronnie Graue (both ARG) won the inaugural Semi-Marathon classification.
‘Consistency’ would be the best word to describe Roma’s performance at this Dakar. The first stage aside, he finished in the top five on every stage and has not been out of the top four in the overall standings since day two. His co-driver Haro also produced a great performance. He not only navigated their way safely through the desert but also proved able to take some punishment. He cracked his ribs a few days ago but the effects of the injury were hardly noticeable in the car.
“That was not bad for us – just one person in front of us. We are very happy,