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Bennett reveals team Xite Mini Cooper for 2018 World RX bid

With just days to go until the 2018 FIA World Rallycross Championship season gets underway at the World RX of Catalunya-Barcelona, the Xite Racing team has revealed the striking new MINI Cooper S X1 it will campaign in a multiple-event World RX programme this year with British driver Oliver Bennett.

The former motocross rider raced an ex-Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta to third overall in the British Rallycross Championship last season, his first year in the sport, and participated in his home World RX round at Lydden Hill.

Now, Bennett will step up to racing in World RX with the new MINI, the first of its kind in the sport, after a three month build time.

"It will be amazing to line-up with some childhood heroes in Barcelona, in a car that we are proud of," he said. "I love Barcelona as a city and the circuit looks fast and fun. The atmosphere with the amphitheatre layout is an amazing spectacle so to be there driving is a dream."

Just one test session has been conducted pre-event, so the British team will treat the car's race debut is a continuation of its test programme.

"The car felt fast out the box so now we prioritise setup. The plan is to enjoy the weekend as it's a massive achievement for us to have made the first round, we can't wait for people to see the car. We hope to finish all the qualifiers and improve the setup through the weekend. It's still a very new feeling sitting in this car, there is a lot to get to grips with."

Bennett is planning to compete in at least eight World RX events this year, including his home round at the Speedmachine festival at Silverstone in May (25-27).

"I can't wait for Silverstone, to be the only regular Brit in World RX this year with a fully British car and team, it should be quite an iconic event. Hopefully we can do well with the crowd behind us.

"I believe the car is very capable of semi-finals this year, I'm not sure when or where but we surprised people in British RX in our first year last season, so maybe we can continue the same in year two. It's a bigger mountain to climb but we're ready for the challenge."

The opening round of the 2018 World Rallycross Championship begins this weekend (April 14-15)

Zdroj: fiaworldrallycross.com