---
title: "Americans Chance at Dakar Glory Ends with a Somersaulting Mini"
description: "Rookie Dakar driver Bryce Menzies and co-driver Peter Mortensen's chance at winning Dakar 2018 is over due to crazy crash."
date: "2018-01-08"
modified: "2018-01-08"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/17449/americans-chance-at-dakar-glory-ends-with-a-somersaulting-mini"
categories:
  - "Mini News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Watch This"
tags:
  - "BRYCE MENZIES"
  - "Crash"
  - "Dakar"
  - "dakar 2018"
  - "Dakar Rally"
  - "MINI"
  - "PETER MORTENSEN"
  - "race car"
  - "X-Raid"
---

# Americans Chance at Dakar Glory Ends with a Somersaulting Mini

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/01/dakarcrashbryce.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The Dakar Rally usually just called the Dakar is a 14-day off-road rally race which takes place in South America. American off-road driver and rookie to [Bryce Menzies](<https://www.dakar.com/en/competitor/310>) was hoping to win the Dakar. That was until his off-road rig somersaulted over a jump ending his race.

Menzies along with his also American co-driver Peter Mortensen were racing in a John Cooper Works MINI Buggy created by well known Dakar team X-Raid. Menzies was supposed to debut at the 2017 Dakar, but when attempting a world record jump in a trophy truck he fractured his shoulder. [He still broke the record](<https://www.redbull.com/us-en/bryce-menzies-sets-record-crashes-during-test>).

Sadly, Menzies and Mortensen's chance at winning the Dakar is over. The official Dakar Rally twitter reported that Menzies suffered a serious crash. Saying that both Menzies and his co-driver Mortensen appear to be okay, but their vehicle was heavily damaged.

https://twitter.com/_/status/949977749912989696

Here is the footage of the crash via Bryce Menzies Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdqtUeOlQrA

And here is aftermath of the crash.

https://youtube.com/embed/vx4B0v0z8_0

After day one of the 2018 Dakar Rally Menzies and Mortensen had finished fourth. The crash occurred during Stage 2. It is hard to believe after watching the crash and the aftermath of the wreck that Menzies and Mortensen nearly walked away unscathed. Dakar initially reported that both drivers were okay, but Mortensen did break his ankle.

[Menzies confirmed via Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/p/BdqFkL2ls4I>) that he will be returning to reattempt the Dakar in 2019.

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)