sad...

Motor Trend: X-Raid Mini Countryman Crashes Out of 2011 Dakar Rally

Final results

 

Sounds like big time driver error to me. They told the driver he needed to finish no matter what, even if he was slow, and he goes and crashes on a test run! I bet he won't be invited back to drive the mini. Sounds like the Mini people are ticked with this guy. I'm sure they were looking to promote the countryman/mini brand with at least a finish of the event.

 

I read that one of the drivers was doing some practice runs and flipped/rolled it. Ouch.

 

It sure is hard to tell a driver that he needs to slow down and finish the race without him getting pissed off enough to purposly wreck the car.

They need a new driver if they run again next time.

 

Terrible. I hope no one was seriously injured.

 

Whoa he royally screwed that Countryman up!

 

Bad news but the passenger compartment looked like it fared rather well, it's almost a good safety advert...

I guess the MINI spirit got into him a little too strongly.