Mini returns to the World Rally Championship

[Roundel]

Mini and Prodrive build a WRC Countryman

Mini will return to the World Rally Championship in 2011, running a 1.6-liter turbocharged Countryman. The car, developed by UK-based Prodrive in conjunction with Mini, with an engine developed by BMW Motorsport, will run selected events in 2011 and will run the full WRC schedule in 2012.

The 2011 FIA formula for the WRC prescribes a 1.6-liter turbo motor and four wheel drive, so the Mini Countryman is a natural for the series. Technical details have not been released at this point. The first test of the car, which will be available for sale to customer teams, will take place this fall.

The 2011 Mini Countryman WRC car will be tested this fall.

Prodrive chairman David Richards, who won the WRC championship as co-driver to Ari Vatanen in 1981, founded his firm in 1984. The company currently has over 500 employees. Cars prepared by Prodrive have taken six overall wins in the World Rally Championship, five British Touring Car Championship titles, and three class wins at Le Mans.

Richards said, “This is a very exciting new motorsport program. 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 favorite 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.”

Now remind me, how do I keep the road dust out of my cameras?—Brian S. Morgan, motorsports editor, bmwcca.org