MINI WRC

Od 2012. gledat cemo MINI-je na WRC-u!

Evo prvih fotki MINI Countrymana kojeg Prodrive priprema za rally.



MINI’s return to the World Rally Championship has stepped up a gear. The firm has contracted legendary motorsports firm Prodrive to build its new rally challenger, and the first complete car has turned a wheel at the Banbury team’s private test track in Warwickshire.

The first test of the car took place over four days, where members of the engineering team drove the car primarily on tarmac, but also including several kilometres on loose surfaces and Prodrive’s low grip facility. The Countryman WRC will now be packed up and shipped down to Portugal for a week of gravel testing.

Prodrive’s technical director, David Lapworth, said. “As with any totally new car, it is vital to take time to ensure all the systems are working as intended before embarking on a week long gravel test”

The first test car is running with an interim body and aero package, and features the same swirly camouflage that BMW uses for its prototype road cars. BMW Motorsport in Germany is building the car’s 1.6-litre turbocharged engine for Prodrive.

Design of the final WRC bodywork is underway, and the car will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show. MINI will contest a limited number of rounds next year before a full-on championship assault in 2012. So far, Finnish legend Marcus Gronholm and talented Brit Kris Meeke are in line to drive for the team.

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