Mini finally lands its full blackflip

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos, Crossover, Mini

French stuntman Guerlain Chicherit hit the ski slopes of Tignes, France over the weekend - not to enjoy the fresh snow but to perform the first-ever unassisted backlip in a car, which was teased last month.

The unassisted part of the stunt comes from the fact that he Chicherit, in a special rally-prepped Mini Countryman, uses a regular, solid ramp rather than any specially modified ramps that have been used in the past to pull off this stunt. Unfortunately, after 18 months of practice, you'd think the video would be more entertaining by showing more closeups or better angles of the stunt.

Either way, you can check out Chicherit and his Countryman nail the back flip in the video posted below, and Mini has provided a press release and some high-res shots for the stunt as well.

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Mini finally lands its full blackflip originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini attempts first-ever backflip in a car

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Mini

Not too long ago, the idea of doing a backflip seemed almost impossible on two wheels let alone four, but now the stunt is routinely performed using everything from dirtbikes to monster trucks. Now Mini is getting into the game by attempting to perform a backflip with French stuntman Guerlain Chicherit behind the wheel of a highly modified Countryman, which it claims is the first-ever attempt at doing so with a car.

Another unique element of the jump that Mini is claiming is in regards to the ramp. Past automotive backflips, including Rhys Millen's 2009 jump to ring in the New Year, have used special ramps that help rotate the car, but the ramp Chicherit uses is "unassisted" and the backflip is attempted using only "a gas pedal and a prayer" according to a Mini spokesman for the event.

The video posted below is only a teaser showing the car launch up into the air, but while we have to wait until February 10 to see the final result, it sounds like the landing was a success. According to the Chicherit's Facebook page, practice for the stunt took 18 months of work with "lots of crashes."

Continue reading Mini attempts first-ever backflip in a car

Mini attempts first-ever backflip in a car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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