The whole world is gradually tuning into the Holiday mood, slowly unwinding business in preparation for Christmas. For the teams that are going to compete in the 2014 Dakar Rally though, the work has just begun. Take Monster Energy team here. They just unveiled their new X-raid MINI Countryman being tested to the limit in Morocco.

Rally Dakar is the first major motorsport event of the season and it is one of the most important as well. The Monster Energy X-raid team seems well prepared for the challenge ahead, judging by what the car seems to be capable of in this video:

The twin-turbo MINI with 516 ft/lb (700Nm) of torque is one dessert bashing beast and in the right hands it has race-winning potential. X-Raid will field 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 Ho?owczyc and Orlando Terranova.