Leonid Novitskiy and Konstantin...
Leonid Novitskiy and Konstantin Zhiltsov took third place in car #307
Mini proved its might as a motorsport competitor with a decisive showing of three cars in the top five spots for the 2013 Dakar Rally. First place in the car class was taken by Stephane Peterhansel. This was Peterhansel's second victory with Mini, and his 11th Dakar career win. The Russian duo of Leonid Novitskiy and Konstantin Zhiltsov took third place in car #307, and the Spanish/French team of Nani Roma and Michel Perin took fourth place in the #305 Mini Countryman.
The South African/German duo of Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz took second place in the race in their Toyota Hilux. The truck was equipped with a production-based 5.0-liter V-8, which is not usually offered in the Hilux, but is a derivative of the i-Force 5.7-liter V-8 in the Toyota Tundra, Land Cruiser and Lexus LX570.
In the heavy-truck class, the Russian team of Eduard Nikolaev, Sergey Savostin, and Vladimir Rybakov took first place in the Russian-made Kamaz truck. Only 26 years old, Nikolaev is already an accomplished motorsport veteran, coming in third in the 2011 Dakar Rally and taking multiple top-three victories in the Gold of Kagan Rally.
Source: Red Bull Racing, Mini, Dakar
First Place Stephane Pete...
First Place Stephane Peterhansel
Eduard Nikolaev, Sergey Savostin,...
Eduard Nikolaev, Sergey Savostin, and Vladimir Rybakov took first place in the Russian-made Kamaz truck
Nani Roma and Michel Perin...
Nani Roma and Michel Perin took fourth place in the #305