The X-raid team has barely had time for a breather. After winning the Rally Dakar, the private German team and its squad of international drivers hot-footed it straight to the start of the 2012 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies. Following a solid performance from Khalifa Al-Mutaiwei in a MINI ALL4 Racing at the first World Cup event, the driver from the United Arab Emirates upped his game significantly to take second place at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Khalifa lined up at the six-day event with a MINI ALL4 Racing, the engine on which had been the subject of many detailed modifications. After the race he appeared happy with the changes that had been made. The MINI ALL4 Racing was right up there with the leaders when it came to performance and reliability. "It was a really tough rally," said Team Principal Sven Quandt. "That is why I am so pleased with Khalifa's second place." However, the X-raid team had no intention of sitting back and enjoying their achievement.

Just ten days later the team lined up at the third World Cup event of the season – the Sealine Cross Country Rally in Qatar. Khalifa was in action once again, while Yazeed Al-Rajhi of Saudi Arabia took his place in the second X-raid MINI ALL4 Racing. Al-Rajhi had made the best possible debut for the X-raid team at the end of March, winning the "Hail Rally" in front of his home crowd.

Khalifa Al-Mutaiwei on the podium.

Midway through the event Yazeed and Khalifa ranked second and third respectively in the overall classifications, but on stage three Yazeed rolled and could not finish the day. After the team was able to rebuild his MINI ALL4 Racing, Yazeed had bad luck again when he suffered a massive puncture and a brake that caught fire. So Yazeed had to retire for good.

Meanwhile, however, Khalifa continued his run for a podium finish. On the fourth and final stage of the event he finished sixth for the day and claimed third place overall. For Khalifa this means the second straight podium finish after finishing second overall at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in late March. Another success for him and the X-raid Team.

So Team Principal Sven Quant's crew has earned some rest after completing three World Cup events in a month. The X-raid Team will be back in action on 7th July at the 2012 Silk Way Rally in Russia, which also proved a happy stomping ground for the X-raid team last year. Krzysztof Holowczyc and his co-driver Jean-Marc Fortin claimed victory in a MINI ALL4 Racing. Shortly after the Silk Way Rally, the X-raid team returns to action in the World Cup on 20th July at the Baja Espana Aragon, which is the fourth of eight World Cup events this season.

Final Standings Sealine Cross-Country-Rally:

1. N. Al-Attiyah 9:27.38 hrs

2. L. Alvarez 10:13.47 hrs

3. K. Al-Mutaiwei 10:14.35 hrs