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The Mini stand at the Paris auto show had a special treat for WRC fans – the Mini WRC that will be used to contest next year’s championship.
The MINI WRC, powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder Di turbo-charged engine, recently received a baptism of fire during initial testing at the Prodrive rally track.
British-based Prodrive previously won multiple titles with the Subaru team and will run the Mini team next year. Mini will compete in six of the 13 rounds in 2011 before contesting the championship proper in 2012.
Mini also confirmed Kris Meeke, the reigning IRC champion and former protégé of late WRC champion Colin McRae, as one of its drivers.
The Mini WRC has been in development since 2009. Prodrive boss Dave Richards said in July he had set a target of three years within which to win the championship.
“The development of the car is running on schedule and the preparations for the world championship are in full swing,” said Ian Robertson, member of the board of management of BMW AG responsible for sales and marketing.
“The Mini Countryman production model provided the ideal basis for our new world championship challenger.”
Countryman is the latest model in the Mini range and also the first to be equipped with an all-wheel-drive system, making it the simple choice for a rally derivative.
For its off-road forays, the Mini WRC is powered by a BMW Motorsport-developed 1.6-litre four cylinder Di-turbo while power is transmitted to its four wheels via an Xtrac six-speed, sequential gearbox.
The MINI WRC, powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder Di turbo-charged engine, recently received a baptism of fire during initial testing at the Prodrive rally track.
British-based Prodrive previously won multiple titles with the Subaru team and will run the Mini team next year. Mini will compete in six of the 13 rounds in 2011 before contesting the championship proper in 2012.
Mini also confirmed Kris Meeke, the reigning IRC champion and former protégé of late WRC champion Colin McRae, as one of its drivers.
The Mini WRC has been in development since 2009. Prodrive boss Dave Richards said in July he had set a target of three years within which to win the championship.
“The development of the car is running on schedule and the preparations for the world championship are in full swing,” said Ian Robertson, member of the board of management of BMW AG responsible for sales and marketing.
“The Mini Countryman production model provided the ideal basis for our new world championship challenger.”
Countryman is the latest model in the Mini range and also the first to be equipped with an all-wheel-drive system, making it the simple choice for a rally derivative.
For its off-road forays, the Mini WRC is powered by a BMW Motorsport-developed 1.6-litre four cylinder Di-turbo while power is transmitted to its four wheels via an Xtrac six-speed, sequential gearbox.