Baja Portalegre: MINI John Cooper Works Rally Debut for Peterhansel & Castera
Peterhansel / Castera in the MINI JCW Rally
Final test before the Dakar Rally in January
Stéphane Peterhansel and David Castera (both FRA) will contest their first rally together at the Baja Portalegre (25.-27.10.2018) in Portugal and prepare for their joint mission at the 2019 Dakar. However, the duo’s debut will come at the wheel of a MINI John Cooper Works Rally, as their MINI John Cooper Works Buggy is currently being prepared for the Dakar.
Peterhansel has 13 victories at the Dakar Rally to his name, making him the record winner. Six of these came on motorcycles and seven in cars. As such, he is one of only three drivers to have won the prestigious rally in two different categories. Castera has spent the past few years as Cyril Despres‘ navigator, winning the Silk Way Rally twice with him. Prior to that, the Frenchman was the Sporting Director of the Dakar Rally for the ASO.
The Baja Portalegre is held around the Portuguese town of the same name, Portalegre. Peterhansel took his place on the top step of the podium here in 2008. The crews will cover a total distance of 685.60 kilometres on the Friday and Saturday – 456.56 of those against the clock.
Stéphane Peterhansel; “It is a few years since I started in the car category at the Baja Portalegre. I have been in the SxS with Andrea in recent years. The Baja Portalegre is a really well-organised event and the route is very technical. I have always had a lot of fun there. Let’s see how I get on in the 4×4, as I have only driven the Buggy in recent years. It will also be my first rally with David, which makes it an important practice for us.”
