Mini set for return to WRC- 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00
Mini is set to make a comeback on the international rally circuit from 2011 – marking a return of one the sports most famous names.
Owners BMW confirmed that Mini will make selected appearances over the course of next season, before completing the full calendar in 2012.
The brand will compete at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and the involvement is planned for several years.
The car that Mini will use is the Countryman WRC, which is being developed by Prodrive, in close cooperation with MINI, and is based on the production model.
The heart of the racing car is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport.
The car complies with the new Super2000 regulations put in place by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), 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 per cent reduction in overall costs.
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