Whilst the motorsport season may feel like a distant memory to some, this is the time of year that an elite band of hardened racers crave for more than anything else as they dial in their final preparations for the Dakar Rally Raid. Arguably the most fearsome and awe-inspiring race on the planet is now only a matter of weeks away.
Since moving to South America in 2009 from its original form – barreling through the streets of Paris all the way to its namesake in Senegal, Africa – the most grueling motorsport race in the world has proved that no matter where the epic deserts are: the best racers in the world will come to fire their highly tuned machinery across them.
The Monster Energy X-Raid team is no exception and after another successful season of Cross-Country Rally they're heading into Dakar 2014 with back-to-back wins to their name, ready to charge through the immense terrain of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. X-Raid will field a stable of four cars in the 2014 Rally; they will be spearheaded by Stephane Peterhansel (the most successful Dakar competitor with 11 wins on his account), Nani Roma, Krzysztof Hołowczyc and Orlando Terranova. The squad will be wielding their twin-turbo MINIs to chase victory across a total of 9,374 kilometers in only 13 days.
Before the action kicks off in Rosario, Argentina on January 4th, Monster Energy teamed up with Stephane to bring you a preview of what his machinery is capable of. Prepare yourself for a dust-choking, sand dune blitzing frenzy as we chase Stephane through the streets of Erfoud, Morocco, past Berbers and their camels into the epic dunes of the Sahara desert.