Sordo will pilot the Mini and will sub at Ford in Argentina
Prodrive, developer of the Mini WRC, has announced that it plans to contest the World Rally Championship events in New Zealand, Germany, and the UK. Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio will run one car, with drivers for a second car to be determined. Prodrive will add additional rallies to the schedule later.
Prodrive rally team principal David Wilcock said, “We looked at the events we thought would be our most competitive and which gave an even spread throughout the year. After our pace on tarmac last year and Dani’s podiums and near win in France, Germany was an obvious choice. Rally GB is clearly our home event, while after the performance of the new car on the gravel of Portugal, we felt New Zealand should give us a further opportunity to demonstrate that we have the pace to win on loose surfaces.”
Sordo won six stages in Portugal, although he finished eleventh after his Mini had electrical and exhaust problems along with a puncture.
WRC Team Mini Portugal, the organization that replaced Prodrive as the Mini factory team early this year, will also be in New Zealand. Before that rally they will run in Argentina on April 27-29.
Sordo will sub for Latvala
Autosport.com has indicated that Sordo will substitute for Ford’s Jari-Mati Latvala in Argentina; Latvala, who broke his collarbone in a skiing accident, will not be able to compete in the South American event. The deal with Ford is for one rally. Latvala is expected to return for the Acropolis Rally in Greece in May.—Brian S. Morgan, motorsports editor, bmwcca.org
