Thursday 30th September 2010

Paris: Mini Countryman WRC

New Mini (ahem!) SUV 'returns' to rallying with Prodrive

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Mini has unveiled its new World Rally Car on the tenth anniversary of the original 'new' Mini's own Paris debut.

The Mini Countryman WRC, which has been developed by rally legends Prodrive, will compete in selected rounds of the 2011 World Rally Championship, before taking on a full championship assault in 2012.

Mini also revealed that the car would be available for sale to private teams from next year (which will be good news if you had your privateer heart set on a Citroen DS3 WRC).

We also reckon that the Countryman (as much as we don't really want to admit this) looks pretty good in chunky-bumpered, bespoilered WRC guise. You might even say it's a fitting continuation of the Mini rallying family tree that last had fresh blood in 1967. At least that's what 'they' want you to say...

Sharing show-space with the new DS3 WRC and Ford's new WRC Fiesta, The Mini WRC makes this year's Paris show rather rally-tastic - and should help to invigorate top-flight rallying.

"WRC has to become stronger," FIA president Jean Todt told assembled hacks at the Mini's press confernce. "Mini's contribution will be greatly appreciated."

[Dr G]

What a spectacularly ugly thing that is!

[LuS1fer]

Dear God.

[zeppelin101]

That rear wing is awesome!

[Insight]

Never in the history of mankind has a car been adorned with so many stickers...!

[Streps]

Looks like an angry fish wearing a Tiny fog light Tiara

Edited by Streps on Thursday 30th September 13:24

[craigbunyan]

Seems strange that they opted to show the car in gravel spec? Surely given the location of the reveal (surrounded by huge wheeled concept cars)a tarmac spec car would get a better reception?

[BelperJim]

If the yman helps make rallying more interesting I'm all for it. They've nicked the exhausts off a Tuscan though.

[Chewitt]

as sniff petrol says

[y2blade]

I like it

I want

[hornetrider]

LuS1fer said:

Dear God.

Absolutely this.

What. The fk. Is that monstrosity.

[soad]

Hell, it looks busy and fussy. Look, look at me - all eyes on me.

[Geoffcapes]

Dr G said:

What a spectacularly ugly thing that is!

What he said!

[barwea]

My eyes!

[doodles19]

barwea said:

My eyes!

what he said!

[ajprice]

Nice of them to pay tribute and run it on original mini 10" wheels

[HereBeMonsters]

Giving it 1 point out of 10, as it least it will have Kris Meeke at the helm. Looking forward to seeing him in the WRC next year...

[mybrainhurts]

soad said:

Hell, it looks busy and fussy. Look, look at me - all eyes on me.

Go on, then, what're you going to do...?

[Oddball RS]

WHY?

[y2blade]

Insight said:

Never in the history of mankind has a car been adorned with so many stickers...!

soad said:

Hell, it looks busy and fussy. Look, look at me - all eyes on me.

it's a rally car! what do you expect? black bodywork and dark rims


you could say the same about any other rally car I've ever seen! did you even read the opening post?

[ajprice]

Meanwhile on the Ford stand, the 2011 WRC Fiesta shows how it should be done.