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Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:48 am
by sirwilliam
I would be all over this mini...
ARTICLE LINKY
Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship - Racing
Prodrive’s new Countryman WRC hopes to recapture some of Mini’s 1960’s rally glory.
By Andrew Bornhop
July 27, 2010
In a surprise announcement, Prodrive—the English company synonymous with rallying success—has said that it is developing a Mini Countryman to compete in the FIA Super2000 class of the World Rally Championship in 2011 and beyond. This Mini Countryman WRC, produced in close cooperation with Mini, will be an all-wheel-drive machine powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder built by BMW Motorsport. The first test is scheduled to take place this fall, likely in England.
The Mini name is legendary in rallying, with drivers such as Paddy Hopkirk competing in the tiny car against the likes of the V-8-powered Fords in the 1960s, even winning the famed Monte Carlo Rallye three times!
BMW also has rally heritage, the Bavarian firm present when the World Rally Championship made its debut in 1973, the same year Achim Warmbold and Jean Todt (yes, that Jean Todt) tasted victory in the Alpenfahrt Rally in Austria, driving a BMW 2002. Also of note, BMW’s last rally win came in 1987, when Bernard Beguin in an M3 built by Prodrive, earned a victory in the Corsican Rally.
Says David Richards, Prodrive Chairman: “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.”
Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, says the Countryman provides “an excellent basis from which to create a competitive racing car for the world championship.” Roberston also adds that he’s pleased to link up with Prodrive for this effort, which is planned to last several years.
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:48 am
by Sabre
I would love one of these things!
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:45 pm
by complacent
Agreed. I think that would be stupid fun.
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:23 pm
by ElZorro
Sweet
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:52 pm
by Mr Kleen
It shouldn't cost more than $54,999.
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:41 am
by Cereb Daithi
This sort of goes in line with another post (that I believe Will made) talking about rumors of an AWD mini. FIA homologation specials anyone?
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:33 am
by complacent
Cereb Daithi wrote:This sort of goes in line with another post (that I believe Will made) talking about rumors of an AWD mini. FIA homologation specials anyone?
yes pls!
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:50 pm
by PGT
MINI Countryman's AWD system (OEM, not the WRC edition)
And Prodrive testing in Portugal
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:51 pm
by PGT
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:48 pm
by complacent
that lil bugger was moving!
although i have no reference speed to judge against, it sure looked, moved and sounded pretty awesome.
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:43 pm
by Sabre
I hope the exhaust is that straight in the production version!
Agreed with Colin, that little thing was hauling some major ass.
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:56 pm
by PGT
I dunno. That turbo appears to be between the motor and the firewall. The current Coopers have it in front of the motor (in fact, people have had melted hoodscoops because of it). Perhaps MINI redesigned the layout for all the '11 on models....not sure
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 5:23 pm
by Cereb Daithi
And Andrew just brought this out of storage.... hm... I wonder...
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 8:22 pm
by Sabre
How much does he want?
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 9:52 pm
by Cereb Daithi
Andrew wrote:This is an original US market, '67 1275 S that I bought when I was in high school, drove it home and realised what a rusty piece of shit it was.
Eight years later I was driving it again, but from the right side of the car, with about twice the stock horsepower thanks to all kinds of trick bits i dragged back from England and looked much nicer as well...
You can have this car when you prise it from my cold dead fingers...
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 6:50 am
by Mr Kleen
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:17 am
by Cereb Daithi
My second favorite automotive film. Only surpassed by Dust to Glory.
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 1:22 pm
by sirwilliam
Wow, never heard of it...thanks!
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 2:41 pm
by Sabre
Cereb Daithi wrote:Andrew wrote:You can have this car when you prise it from my cold dead fingers...
Can't say I blame him!
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:30 pm
by Mr Kleen
sirwilliam wrote:
Wow, never heard of it...thanks!
it's available on Netflix watch it now. not so much a documentary as a
love letter to a car.
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:34 am
by schvin
will check out love the beast.
dust to glory is an all-time fave.
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:58 pm
by PGT
MINI has just released the first real photos and full specifications of the WRC Countryman. While there are no real surprises (if you know you’re WRC cars) it is noteworthy to see some of the details.
As we’ve reported MINI WRC was developed by Prodrive in accordance to the new FIA Super 2000 regulations on the basis of the MINI Countryman production model. However the engine is 100% BMW Motorsport. What we still don’t know is how closely (if at all) it’s related to factory the MINI/JCW powerplant.
Looking at the design of the car we see the JCW brand is used thoroughly and there are some new radical elements we hadn’t seen before.
Specifications
Dimensions:
Length: 4,110 mm
Width: 1,820 mm
Weight: 1,200 kg (FIA minimum weight)
Engine:
BMW Motorsport 1,600 cc, direct injection petrol Garrett turbocharger – maximum boost 2.5 bar Dry sump
Transmission:
Permanent four wheel drive Gearbox: Xtrac 6-speed sequential
Clutch:
AP Racing sintered twin plate Front differential: Plated limited slip Rear differential: Plated limited slip
Steering:
Hydraulic power assisted
Chassis:
MINI Countryman bodyshell with Prodrive roll cage exceeding FIA regulations
Suspension:
Front: Prodrive Öhlins Macpherson strut, 3 way adjustable damper Rear: Prodrive Öhlins Macpherson strut, 3 way adjustable damper
Wheels:
ATS wheels and Michelin tyres Gravel: 15” diameter Tarmac: 18” diameter
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:40 pm
by Sabre
I can't wait to see this thing on some dirt!
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:29 pm
by complacent
that car is sex.
zomgwant.
Re: Mini to Compete in the 2011 World Rally Championship
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:15 pm
by PGT
