What's the news?
MINI has unveiled its latest contender in the rally-raid motorsport arena and it's called the John Cooper Works (JCW) Rally. It will compete in events such as the Dakar Rally, the FIA World Cup and the Silk Way Rally endurance challenge.
Exterior
A build between MINI and rally group X-raid, the JCW Rally is based on a Countryman bodyshell. As it has to adhere to certain regulations in terms of size and weight, the area that X-raid and MINI have focused on most is aerodynamics. The car has been in the BMW Group's wind tunnel in order to reduce drag as much as possible, which leads to a number of benefits such as increased top speed on open trail sections, improved high-speed stability, lower fuel consumption and better sub-system cooling.
The JCW Rally's body is made from a carbon fibre/Kevlar composite (its overall weight is a still-hefty 1,952kg, though) and three spare wheels with tyres are stored underneath the car on hydraulic jacks. That lowers the centre-of-gravity, which is handy for a competition car. Additionally, the JCW Rally sports a new racing livery for the MINI team and the alloy wheels on the vehicle are derived from the road-going JCW accessory collection. Finally, like a lot of rally raid cars, the air inlet for the car is integrated into the roof, the opening framed by the original roof racks.
Interior
Compared to the old ALL4 racing version, the MINI JCW Rally's cabin interior has been 'renewed', according to the company. The carbon fibre dashboard has been split into three sections, with displays for the driver and the co-driver, and a central information unit too. All the navigational systems are on the co-driver's dashboard. Stowed within the MINI is a massive 385-litre fuel tank, designed to keep it going for the huge distances involved in its type of motorsport.
Mechanicals
The MINI JCW Rally is built on a tubular steel chassis, while the front subframe is removable so that the engine can be whipped out in little more than an hour. Suspension is provided by Reiger Racing Suspension and each axle is capable of providing the maximum permissible 250mm of wheel travel. The brakes are 320mm vented steel discs gripped by six-piston callipers, the rearmost items of which are cooled by both air and water.
Power comes from a 3.0-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder diesel engine, developing 340hp at 3,250rpm and a massive 800Nm at 1,850rpm with a regulatory 38mm air restrictor in place; Akrapovic provides the exhaust system. The engine, capable of propelling the car at speeds of up to 184km/h on the rough stuff, is mapped to be able to maintain performance and driveability, even in thin air at high altitudes, and its prodigious power is channelled to all four wheels via a six-speed Sadev sequential gearbox mated to an AP Racing clutch. Lockable, oil-cooled Xtrac front and rear differentials with a central Sadev unit offer maximum performance, no matter what the terrain or conditions.
Anything else?
Sebastian Mackensen, senior vice-president of MINI, said: "MINI and X-raid is a legendary partnership. Together, we have shaped today's rich sporting heritage of this famous 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."