The New Mini WRC

The New Mini WRC Front Angle View

The New Mini WRC Side View

The New Mini WRC Front Details View

The New Mini WRC Front View

The New Mini WRC Interior View

The New Mini WRC Rear Angle View

The MINI WRC, driven by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo Motore di, recently received a baptism of fire, acquitted himself well during the first rally Prodrive test track. The company began development of the car in 2009, and displayed a concept of the MINI WRC in Paris. “The Paris Motor Show is the perfect stage to start on our MINI WRC”, Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said in charge of sales and marketing. “The response to our announcement that is MINI in the world of the rally again next year very positively. The FIA World Rally Championship is the pinnacle of the sport, making it the ideal platform to demonstrate the fighting spirit of our brand. The development of the car is on schedule and preparations for the World Cup in full swing. The Mini Countryman production model of the ideal starting point for our new World Cup challenger. ”

The 2011 World Rally Championship WRC see the new MINI Challenge compete in six of 13 scheduled rounds throughout the season with MINI 2012th Prodrive also plans to deliver versions of customer data available to independent teams for use in the championship.

Rally is hardly unfamiliar territory for the MINI. In the past, this popular genre Motorsport fundamental type of brand image. The MINI Cooper S was a true legend with numerous victories in the Rally of Monte Carlo. The European Rally Championship, even saw MINI notch serial successes. “MINI has enjoyed a successful tradition in the sport,” said Dr. WolfgangArmbrecht, Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI. “The interest in motor sport is huge in the current generation of MINI customers. The WRC provides an excellent communication platform for the Mini Countryman, the MINI WRC is based.”

Prodrive, an experienced motor racing operation was selected as a partner in the search for MINI success continues. The company founded by David Richards, is one of the most respected and successful in rallying. “This project is an opportunity, really passionate,” says Richards. “MINI is a cult brand to create a lasting impression on his last race campaign. We are both very happy and proud to be on board as partners in MINI back to the sport. We strive for the year 2011 is used as the preparatory year will be collecting to provide experiences, we are fully competitive from the start of next season. But let us not underestimate the task ahead of us, nor the intense competition facing us on the road, but our target is fixed to the put winning the world title MINI again. ”

Prodrive was founded in 1984 and has established itself as a leading independent motor racing team. It employs over 500 employees, the company in Banbury (UK) is based. Among other successes, and today, Prodrive won six World Rally Championships, five British Touring Car titles and scored three class wins in the classic Le Mans 24 Hours France.

Kris Meeke has confirmed as the first driver to compete for the MINI Prodrive WRC. The rally ace Dungannon (GB) was first known, when he won the British Junior Rally Championship 2002. Numerous victories and titles to follow. With the support of his longtime mentor and former World Rally Champion Colin McRae in the late (GB), Meek was able to successfully establish itself on the rally scene. The Northern Irishman celebrated his recent success of last year, when he the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) won.

The Mini Countryman, the youngest and the first MINI model with four-wheel-drive equipped. Therefore, this model is the logical basis for a competitive rally derivative. The flagship Countryman MINI Cooper S is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine supplemented not only powered a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection, but also fully variable valve control management – this offers by far the best balance between engine power and fuel consumption in its class. The engine generates an impressive 135 kW / 184 hp and accelerates the MINI Cooper S Countryman 0-100 kph in 7.6 seconds.

As part of the minimalism concept, a number of fuel-and emissions-reducing features are standard or in appropriate combinations, including Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start Stop Function, Shift Indicator need and on the functioning of basic additional components.

All MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper D Countryman Countryman ALL4 are available with permanent four-wheel drive MINI, with an electro-hydraulic differential final drive directly back to the change in the distribution front-to endless in a process. Under normal driving conditions and 50 percent of engine power goes to the rear wheels in extreme conditions up to 100 percent, with a new high-traction delivery of agility so typical of MINI.

The heart of the MINI, the BMW Motorsport WRC-developed 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine Di, which are used not only in the WRC, but also in other championships on the FIA Super 2000 regulations. Power is transmitted through an Xtrac 6-speed sequential gearbox. For their trips to the rally stages offers the MINI Countryman chassis developed a roll cage from Prodrive, which exceeds the stringent security requirements.

Pictures Gallery :
(click to enlarge)