Mini to join World Rally Championship in 2011 28/07/2010 |
|
| |
| |
Minis will compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC) next year, it has been announced.
Owner BMW confirmed Mini will compete in selected rounds of the championship in 2011 before completing the full series the following year.
BMW, which pulled out of Formula 1 last year, is planning its involvement with Mini in the WRC for "several years".
The car used will be the Mini Countryman WRC that has been developed by the Banbury-based Prodrive organisation run by David Richards.
The Mini Cooper S became an iconic car in rallying in the 1960s, winning the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally on three occasions in 1964, 1965 and 1967, as well as the European Championship in 1965.
Richards also has a long-standing pedigree in rallying, winning three constructors' titles with Subaru in 1995, 1996 and 1997.
"This is a very exciting new motor sport programme," said Richards.
"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 motor sport events, the 4,000km Monte Carlo Rally.
"I believe our new Mini will become a firm favourite of the latest generation of rally fans, just as it is adored by its millions of owners across the world."
|
| Back |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
