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MINI to Return to WRC for 2011

27 Jul , 2010   David  

BMW announced that MINI will be returning to competition in the World Rally Championship starting at select events in 2011 and will compete in the entire 2012 season and ‘for many years’ to come after that. The MINI rally car will be based on the Clubman and will be developed in partnership with ProDrive, which was behind the Subaru Rally Team from 1989 – 2008. The Clubman will be fitted with a 1.6 Liter turbo charged 4 cylinder BMW Motorsport engine.

2011 MINI Countryman

The 2011 MINI Countryman will serve as the base to the WRC rally car

The MINI has a successful past in rally and the WRC. The first factory backed MINI began entering international rally events in 1962 using John Cooper tuned engines. The MINI made a name for itself at the Monte Carlo Rally where it took 3 wins in ’64, ’65 and ’67. MINI’s continued rallying into the ’70s with the most notable finish of the decade a 2nd place at the Scottish rally in 1970. MINI looks to continue this success in 2011 and beyond.

“The MINI Countryman provides an excellent basis, from which to create a competitive racing car for the world championship. In Prodrive, we have a strong and experienced partner. We will work hard together over the coming months to ensure we get the project on track right from the word go.”

“This is a very exciting new motorsport programme,” said Prodrive chairman, David Richards. “During the 1960s MINI captured the imagination of the world when the tiny car took on the might of V8 powered Fords and won what was then one of the toughest motorsport events, the 4000km Monte Carlo rally.

“I believe our new MINI will become a firm favourite of the latest generation of rally fans, just as it is adored by its millions of owners across the world. We already have a significant number of confirmed customer orders for the new MINI rally car with the first deliveries scheduled for the start of the 2011 season.”

No drivers have been officially name to date, but Mads Ostberg who has been a long time ProDrive driver has been linked to the MINI. The 1st test drive of the Countryman WRC is scheduled for this fall and will be available to other customer teams.

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