Al-Attiyah back with X-raid for Dakar

Nasser Al-Attiyah will return to the X-raid Mini team alongside this year's winner Nani Roma for the 2015 Dakar Rally.

Al-Attiyah won the 2011 Dakar with the factory Volkswagen team, and joined X-raid for this year's event after a spell in a Red Bull Buggy following VW's switch of focus to the World Rally Championship. The recently crowned WRC2 champion and Roma join X-raid regulars Orlando Terranova and Krzysztof Holowczyc in the squad's leading line-up, with another five Minis entered for customers.

"I am very happy to be back in the Mini All4 Racing," said Al-Attiyah. "The Dakar is a great adventure for all participants, so it feels good to be on a strong team and behind the wheel of car that is a proven winner in international long-distance rallying."

X-raid took a one-two-three on this year's Dakar with Roma, Stephane Peterhansel and Al-Attiyah, though there was controversy when it imposed team orders late in the rally as Peterhansel's recovery drive after earlier delays brought him onto Roma's tail.

Peterhansel has now moved to Peugeot's new factory assault on the Dakar, teaming up with WRC legend Carlos Sainz and five-time Dakar motorcycle category winner Cyril Despres.