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Rally delivers improved performance with lower fuel consumption . he changes also delivered a very positive outcome on the drivability of the car from gains made in stability , traction and agility . When faced with all manner of terrain and driving conditions - from rain to snow to arid dry conditions , from sot sand to deep wet mud , from 3,000 metre above sea level mountain tracks to valley river beds -improvement in chassis and engine detail is hugely beneicial .
Exterior :
he exterior of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally replicates MINI Countryman and , therefore , MINI typical handling agility for racing use . It is also one of the areas of the car that has received s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n f r o m X - r a i d technicians . Many hours spent in the BMW Group Wind Tunnel with in house motor sports specialists have resulted in aerodynamic detailing to considerably reduce drag .
Because the overall dimensions of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally are the same ( 1:1 ) to the former rally car , and that engine performance and overall car weight is , as in previous years , determined by FIA regulations , the improved aerodynamics of MINI John Cooper Works Rally are important for improved top speed on lat , open trail sections and the required stability at speed . Reduced fuel consumption and better subsystem cooling is also experienced with the improved aerodynamics .
Composite bodywork e . g . carbon ibre and Kevlar is used for the MINI John Cooper Works Rally outer shell , while a honeycomb mix of the same materials is used for an underside tier . he use of such materials is threefold : 1 ) strength and durability - ideal for additional safety protection of the two-man crew 2 ) reduced weight with greater strength , and 3 ) panels are easily removed or replaced during servicing periods or if damaged .
he underside tier now houses all three of the allotted three spare tyre // wheel combinations and two hydraulic jacks operated from within the cabin . Previously only two spare wheels were carried in the underside . By moving the third from the boot space to underneath , a lower CG was obtained along with a change in weight distribution to improve stability and associated driving dynamics .
With the advent of the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally , new colourways and styling cues are being introduced in keeping with the sporting stance of the John Cooper Works road car range . It will feature the exclusive MINI John Cooper Works body colour Rebel Green with the exclusive MINI John Cooper
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Works contrast roof colour Chili Red as well as new designed Sport stripes . Further MINI body colours for the X-raid competitor cars are Chili Red , White Silver and Light White . he exterior design has been developed in close collaboration with the MINI Design team . hus , the original rugged and vertical exterior design of the new MINI Countryman was transferred to the competition cars , such as bumpers , grille , bonnet , side and tail geometries , lights , roof rails and side scuttles . A new style of racing alloy wheel is also to feature at key times during events and is derived from the John Cooper Works accessory wheel collection .
he original design of the all-new MINI Countryman was transferred into MINI John Cooper Works Rally by emphasizing the main features . he design team were designing to ' form follows function ', by purposeful changing the original . he expressive fender lares are stressing the crease-lines which are very characteristic on the new MINI Countryman . he body itself is a lot wider on the fenders , which is helping to integrate an air-outlet in front of the doors .
he expressive hood was lowered for a better visibility for the drivers , by enhancing the landscaping of fenders and power dome , and the rugged looking John Cooper Works ALL4 Exterior Optic Pack was adapted to it the car . he side covers for the underside tier housing the spare wheels are new " Rocker panels " and form a new design icon of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally .
An expressive air inlet is integrated in the roof geometry , framed by the original roof racks . he rear is showing the MINI typically cascading , a self-conident stance and an interpretation of the All4 Pack .
Chassis and chassis components :
To ensure the safety of the crew and in accordance with regulations , the chassis frame of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally is replaced with a specialist frame constructed from tubular steel to aerospace standards . Designed speciically for the demands of cross-country racing , the frame is constructed to exacting standards by CP Autosport .
While the main chassis carries the covering bodywork and provide the skeleton for driveline components it is the job of a front subframe to support the engine . MINI Motorsport partner X-raid devised this subframe to be removable . Such is the design of the chassis and the new subframe ; complete engine removal , if required , can be completed in just over one hour .
Suspension is provided by specialists
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Reiger Racing Suspension . Each axle rides on four fully adjustable suspension units ( two per wheel ) providing the permissible 250mm wheel travel . Six-piston calipers all-round act on 320mm vented steel discs . To ensure consistent braking performance while under the stress of racing conditions for hours on end in high ambient temperatures , the rear brake calipers are air and water-cooled .
Engine and gearbox :
Exemplary engine performance in terms of response , power // torque delivery and ultimate reliability is provided by a BMW Group TwinPower Turbo Six- Cylinder Diesel engine . Designed with endurance competition in mind , the 2993 cc dry sump engine produces 340hp @ 3250 rpm , and torque of approx . 800 Nm @ 1850 rpm with the regulatory 38mm air restrictor in place .
he use of the BMW Group Twin Power Turbo Technology is an obvious choice for the MINI John Cooper Works Rally within the BMW Group engines ' family . he powerful and torque-laden engine is race proven unit that has captured MINI many major victories . Delivering peak performance at low rpm contributes to its renown reliability and is ideal for all terrain conditions from uphill , rocky trails to wide open WRC-like stone covered tracks . Its tractability is also an advantage on desert sands . Low fuel consumption of a race-tuned diesel engine is also an important consideration .
Improved fuel consumption also comes with the use of new engine management mapping . Many hours of testing has realised even greater potential in racing conditions especially at altitude .
he 2017 Dakar Rally will take in Bolivian mountain sections approx . 3,000 metres above sea level . Reduced oxygen content at such heights not only dramatically affects the way a body and mind works , but also the way an engine breathes and can severely hamper engine performance . To fully realise engine performance at all times , the new engine mapping ensures the retention of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally ' s drivability and performance .
he MINI John Cooper Works Rally retains the highly regarded ALL4 racing driveline to place it within the 4x4 racing category that has seen MINI Motorsport dominate cross-country rally competition in recent years .
he driveline features an AP Racing clutch combined with a six-speed SADEV sequential gearbox . Lockable , oil-cooled Xtrac front and rear diffs with a central SADEV unit to deliver maximum engine performance at all times regardless of the terrain and racing conditions
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Also helping to stir the blood of MINI Motorsport and MINI John Cooper Works fans will be the exhaust tone of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally . he Akrapovič exhaust is a new design with rear outlet .
Interior
he cabin interior has been renewed . A carbon ibre dashboard area consists of three sections : driver , central and codriver info units displaying essential info . he driver has selected gear display and LED readout for RPM and gear ratio shit alert . Speed , oil pressure , luid temperatures and electronic functions are displayed on the central dashboard to enable both crew members to view . All navigational systems are located on the co-driver ' s dashboard .
MINI John Cooper Works Rally : the race continues
Ongoing test and development work is paramount to racing success . he new MINI John Cooper Works Rally is presently undergoing inal testing ahead of the 2017 Dakar Rally - the ultimate in long distance cross-country endurance rallies - and will be the focus of X-raid staff and MINI engineers throughout its lifetime .
Talking about the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally , Sebastian Mackensen , Senior Vice President MINI , said :
" MINI and X-raid is a legendary partnership . Together we have shaped today ' s rich sporting heritage of this famous British brand with the four victories in a row at the Dakar and of the FIA Cross Country World Cup from 2012 to 2015 and we wish to continue in the same direction and prove the authentic racing competence of John Cooper Works . With the realisation of the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally , MINI is perfectly placed to extend its sporting achievements ."
" Introducing the famed MINI John Cooper Works sub-brand within the exciting arenas of rally raid , cross-county rally and the endurance challenges of the Dakar Rally and Silk Way Rally seals MINI ' s commitment to this spectacular and compelling motorsport . his racing spirit will always be a part of MINI ' s genes and products .
" he competitive debut of the MINI John Cooper Works Rally at the 2017 Dakar Rally is a tough debut indeed . he Dakar Rally is the epitome of long-distance rally , where the competitive stress placed on man and machine is like no other but perfectly represents the sporting spirit of MINI Motorsport and the John Cooper
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