Mini John Cooper Works WRC Revealed
It may be a bit of a mouthful, but it's tasty too...
Mini has launched its Prodrive developed WRC challenger at the Mini Cowley plant, with an all-star cast including veteran rallyists Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen who appeared briefly on stage with a replica 1960s Monte winner.
The '60s car arrived on stage with one of its headlamps on the blink, which was an amusing reminder that in Mini terms 'old' needn't mean 'better' - even if it indisputably means smaller. However the new Prodrive built machine appeared poised, purposeful and - thanks to a ground-hugging suspension set-up for the launch - significantly less overbearing than the stodgy SUV-esque Countryman with which it shares a body shell.
There's no mention of Countryman in the new rally car's name, which has been officially dubbed the MINI John Cooper Works WRC, and which in the words of brand motorsport director Dirk Hollweg 'will wake up sleeping motorsport fans'. (That means you - pay attention at the back! Ed)
Apparently, the WRC organisers are looking closely at internet TV streaming of events in future, which bodes well for armchair (office chair?), even if you can't see much on mainstream telly channels this year.
Prodrive boss David Richards spoke briefly about the Mini WRC project genesis, which began life some time before any contact was made with BMW. "The new regulations gave us a chance to take a totally fresh look (at rally car design), and two years ago we started designing a generic car without knowing which car it was actually going to be," he said. "Then - almost coincidentally - we heard Mini was launching the Countryman, and I knew we had to be involved."
In case any non-rally fans are wondering, a regular Mini 5dr (aka Clubman) is too small for the WRC regs at 3958mm, but the Countryman cuts the mustard with its 4097mm 'length overall'. Its standard 4x4 drivetrain and 1.6 litre turbo engine are bang on the money too.
As well as the two Prodrive run factory cars which will be piloted by Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo, we're told to expect up to 5 customer Minis on the start line in Sardinia on May 5th when the new machines line up for their first WRC challenge. Altogether six rounds will be contested by factory cars in 2011, with a full championship challenge to follow next year.
If you like the look of the new Mini rally car, Prodrive will furnish you a fully supported one from around £350k per season and you can enter it into the national rally championship of your choice. We're guessing there must be less fun ways to burn through a small fortune...
Looks silly.
it looks exactly the same before and after being crashed
1.
I hope the car is as good as you might expect from Prodrive, and it allows Chris Meeke to show how good he is (he was mentored by Colin Mcrae early in his career and is super quick).
2.
Is this the first car to eclipse the Grp B Citroen Bx4x4 as the worlds ugliest rally car?
Why have Bmw created such an ugly version of the Mini (Maxi?) and shoved it on the world stage for all to see (laught at) how pig ugly it is?
Its a fat ugly over-proportioned pig of a car.
Its up against the 3 door Fiesta and the Citroen Ds3 (ugly shopping trolly) neither of which is what you might call a good looking car but the fat fugly Mini (Maxi) makes them look like super models!
the fking chips are fking cold
the fking beer is fking flat
the fking flats have fking rats
the fking clocks are fking wrong
the fking days are fking long
it fking gets you fking down
evidently chicken town
Double park - don't lock the door
Push the pedals through the floor
Give it loads and then some more
It's a hire car baby
Grip the stick - grind the gears
Watch that distance disappear
Never yours in a thousand years
It's a hire car baby
Hire-car, hire-car
Why would anybody buy a car?
Bang it, prang it, say ta ta
It's a hire car baby
Bad behaviour on the street
Save yourself a couple of sheets
Collision rate keeps it sweet
It's a hire car baby
Show this motor no respect
Bump it, dump it, call collect
What else do the firm expect
It's a hire car baby
Drive the fker anywhere
Just like you don't care
Put it down to wear and tear
It's a hire car baby
Pray the person who hired it last
Didn't drive it quite so fast
This dakarum dodgem doesn't last
It's a hire car baby
Try not to kill yourself
Or injure anybody else
Don't forget to fasten your belts
Rent it, dent it, bang it, prang it
Bump it, dump it, scorch it, torch it
Crash and burn it, don't return it
Lost deposit, let 'em earn it
Who cares, it's on the firm
It's a hire car baby
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