BMW’s MINI division will be joining the World Rally Championship’s Super 2000 category next year with a rally-going version of the MINI Countryman called the MINI Countryman WRC, rally-prepped by Prodrive.
The Countryman WRC will be powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport. Super 2000 specs allows for the use of 1,600cc turbocharged engines and four wheel drive as a complement to the 2,000cc normally aspirated engines such as the one found in the Satria Neo Super 2000.
“This is a very exciting new motorsport program. During the 1960s MINI captured the imagination of the world when the tiny car took on the might of V8 powered Fords and won what was then one of the toughest motorsport events, the 4000km Monte Carlo rally. I believe our new MINI will become a firm favourite of the latest generation of rally fans, just as it is adored by its millions of owners across the world,” said Prodrive chairman David Richards.
From BMW’s press release its seems that the Countryman WRC car will be available for customer orders as well and there have already been some bookings. BTW, who knows this new 1.6 litre turbo instead of 2.0 normally aspiration rule might spur Proton to switch its Neo S2000 from the current 2.0 litre Renault to a 1.6 litre Project Phoenix turbo ;)
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nice. they should go for WRC instead, and have special Minis with 2.0 engines homologated for the purpose.
it is in WRC….
wrc formats changeing these day…
no more 2.0 4wd turbocharged…..
new line-up
-2.0 4wd normally aspirated engine
fighting with
-1.6 4wd turbocharged engine.
hmm..hope i can buy it some day
a 1.6 liter Project Phoenix turbo?
u dont know??
About TIME!!! here comes David the giant killer……
Next year’s WRC will be running in super S2000 class with 1.6 turbocharged engines. They will be using the similiar Prince 1.6cc turbocharged engines with the Citroen who will be using the DS3.
So next year provided if proton phoenix engines are ready we can see the satria neo s2000 using the 1.6cc turbocharged engines in WRC. That is something I would love to see!
NICE! add a lil’ bit of ‘cuteness’ in WRC :-)
hmm an suv?
It brings back memories of the many races that they won in Monte Carlo rallies so much so that the French disqulified them on ‘technicalities’.
mini just gone gangster?
nice rim, looks like O.Z…
wow..!!! i want it..huhuhu.. :D
I want to try it cause that’s so amazing car 4 me.. :)