Dakar Rally 2013

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Originally Posted by kober

If it was just for driver's skill, I'd add them to the list, but their machinery don't seem to be on par with the others on the list. I'd be more than happy to be positevely surprised by the HRX Lancers, though :)

And, in terms of winning, my money's on De Villiers, altough the victors from the last three years (Peterhansel, Al-Attiyah, Sainz) won't sell their skins for cheap. Either way, one of these four should be the first to win two SA Dakars. In my humble opinion.

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My money is on Peterhansel because I feel the best combination, men and machinery is with the Xraid team. I might even add Nani Roma ahead of the steady De Villiers as I dont think the Toyotas are up there with the performance yet.

Didn't Gordon's team built the Qatar cars?

Anyways, do people think Nasser and Sainz have a chance to win a 2WD buggy against the MINI's?!

Are the French still building it (the MINI X-Raids) or now another company? I recall when Prodrive began having issues with BMW support, the French company had issues with BMW as well....

I thought someone said the cars were built in California and I believe Gordon's team is in North Carolina. And I wouldn't expect Nasser to work with Gordon again after last year.

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Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Didn't Gordon's team built the Qatar cars?

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Jefferies Racing, CA.

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Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Are the French still building it (the MINI X-Raids) or now another company? I recall when Prodrive began having issues with BMW support, the French company had issues with BMW as well....

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X-raid? The company has been based in Trebur near Frankfurt (am Main) in Hesse, Germany. And yes, they were building X5s, X3s, and now they're building the Minis. All with diesel engines.

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Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Didn't Gordon's team built the Qatar cars?

Anyways, do people think Nasser and Sainz have a chance to win a 2WD buggy against the MINI's?!

Are the French still building it (the MINI X-Raids) or now another company? I recall when Prodrive began having issues with BMW support, the French company had issues with BMW as well....

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x-raid is German.

X Raid is the team but the chassis builders have been Heggemann Autosport?
new dimension - X-raid - Home
HEGGEMANN Autosport GmbH - The Production Community - The best come together. (Heggemann contributor to the SAM project with similar design elements to the Dakar Mini.)

Cool. Thanks guys!

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Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Didn't Gordon's team built the Qatar cars?

Anyways, do people think Nasser and Sainz have a chance to win a 2WD buggy against the MINI's?!

Are the French still building it (the MINI X-Raids) or now another company? I recall when Prodrive began having issues with BMW support, the French company had issues with BMW as well....

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yes, regulation is such that 2WD buggies are in with a chance to win. Copious amounts of horse power, light weight, longer wheel travel suspension and large diameter wheels are some of the regulations in their favor. Note that Schlesser won two Dakars in a row with a 2WD buggy.

How many legs in sand dunes are present in 2013 edition? I guess the deep sand is better for buggies while the mountain hard and twisty roads would favor 4WD cars.