FIA Cross Country World Cup’s penultimate long distance rally provides perfect backdrop for 2017 Dakar Rally.Final preparations for the 2017 Dakar Rally under long distance race conditions (six days, 1885 km) sees the line-up of five MINI ALL4 Racing entries to the prestigious Rally Oilibya of Maroc 2016.

Rally Oilibya of Maroc 2016 is the eighth round of the FIA Cross Country World Cup and takes place over seven days (1-7th October) on the desert terrain of Morocco, North Africa. This penultimate race of the 2016 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies is considered by many teams as the final competitive testing arena ahead of the 2017 Dakar Rally – the ultimate in long distance cross-country rally competition.Five MINI ALL4 Racing have made the journey from Trebur, Germany to the North Africa coastline in order to compete and follow up on the successful race win of 2015, but also complete a thorough and exacting X-raid testing schedule ahead of 2017 Dakar.The 1885 km that make up the race stages of the 17th edition of the Rally Oilibya of Maroc covers ground that simulates key areas of the 2017 Dakar Rally and also includes a Marathon Stage. This overnight bivouac without service assistance – driver and co-driver have to maintain their own cars – also replicates stages within Dakar.The MINI ALL4 racing family members to compete at Rally Oilibya of Maroc are a proven mix of experience and determination geared to succeed and return feedback. Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) and co-driver Timo Gottschalk (GER) are one of the leading World Cup protagonists and their desert achievements are an invaluable resource.Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) joins forces once again with experienced co-driver Michel Périn (FRA). Fresh from their winning success at the Hungarian Baja, this crew will undoubtedly push hard to underline their combined talent. Orlando Terranova (ARG) will be also be using his vast Dakar experience in determining chassis and performance set-up of the MINI ALL4 Racing. For the Morocco event, Terranova is re-joined with Paulo Fiúza (POR) – a pairing that has seen previous Dakar success with two fifth place finishes.Kuba Przygonski (POL) will be making full use of the race to further his long distance race experience within a MINI ALL4 Racing. Tom Colsoul (BEL) once again provides expert co-driver guidance. For driver Boris Garafulic (CHL) and co-driver Filipe Palmeiro (POR), Rally Oilibya of Maroc 2016 will be their second outing together after their inaugural partnership at Baja Poland 2016, where they completed in fourth place overall.Start of the Rally Oilibya of Maroc 2016 begins with a Super Special Stage on Sunday 2nd October – an event designed to showcase exemplary driving skills and car performance to massive crowds over a marked course. There then follows five days of rally endurance before race end Friday 7th October.For further information about Rally Oilibya of Maroc 2016, please visit: http://rallyemaroc.npo.fr/en/Rally Oilibya of Maroc 2016: MINI ALL4 Racing line upDriverCo-driverCar numberYazeed Al Rajhi (KSA)Timo Gottschalk (GER)#301Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)Michel Périn(FRA)#302Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski (POL)Tom Colsoul(BEL)#308Orlando Terranova (ARG)Paulo Fiúza(POR)#314Boris Garafulic (CHL)Filipe Palmeiro (POR)#316Race calendar: 2016 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.19/02 – 22/02 Baja Russia02/04 – 7/04 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge17/04 – 22/04 Sealine Cross-Country Rally Qatar23/06 – 26/06 Italian Baja22/07 – 24/07 Baja Aragón11/08 – 14/08 HunGarian Baja25/08 – 28/08 Baja Poland03/10 – 08/10 Rallye Oilibya du Maroc21/10 – 23/10 Baja Portalegre 500