MINI to make rally comeback
Written By Alison Bell Published On: Jul 27 2010 MINI has announced it is to make a comeback on the international rally circuit, starting next year. The brand will compete at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and will go on to contest the entire season from 2012 onwards.It will be the MINI Countryman WRC model, which is being developed by Prodrive, that will take to the tracks, which is based on the production model. The heart of the racing car is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW.
The car complies with the new Super2000 regulations put in place by the International Automobile Federation, which stipulate the use of turbo engines with 1,600 cc displacement and four-wheel drive combined with an increased emphasis on road relevant technologies. The result is a significant 25% reduction in overall costs. The first test drive for the MINI Countryman WRC, which will also be available to customer teams, is planned for autumn 2010.Ian Robertson, member of the board of management of BMW AG, responsible for sales and marketing, said: “I am delighted MINI will be represented on one of the most popular stages in international motorsport. The success enjoyed on the rally circuit has made a vital contribution to the image of the brand. MINI customers have always shown great interest in motorsport. I am convinced we will add a few more chapters to our success story in rallying."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.”
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