As we now know, BMW owned MINI is back the rally scene with Prodrive and will join selected events in this season’s WRC before committing to a full season in 2012. But now it seems like a customer run MINI WRC will beat the works team to a debut in the World Rally Championship.
The team is Brazil World Rally Team and the man behind the wheel will be Brazilian Daniel Oliveira. They plan to compete in 10 rounds of the 2011 WRC season beginning with Rally Portugal in March. The 25-year-old Brazilian has previous Intercontinental Rally Challenge experience, and will be co-driven by Portugal’s Carlos Magalhaes, his IRC partner in 2010.
The Brazilian team has done a deal with Prodrive for a Super 2000-spec MINI Countryman before switching to a WRC-spec version later in the year.
The permanent 4WD car is powered by a 1.6-litre direct injected petrol engine with a Garrett turbocharger (max boost 2.5 bar). Other parts include an Xtrac 6-speed sequential gearbox, AP Racing sintered twin plate clutch, plated limited slip diffs on both ends and Öhlins MacPherson strut suspension with 3-way adjustable dampers.
In the meantime, Prodrive will resume testing of the works MINI WRC in Europe this month. Click here to view the MINI WRC that was shown at the 2010 Paris show.
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stil the old mini looks better on a rally mode!
Isit? I feel this new one not bad what.. but the skirting so near to group level, sure koyak after the race.. =P
showroom spec. sure have to lowered…hehe
gravel confirm they raise back the ride height…
damn, I want this beast!!
the 2003 mini in the italian job film looks better..with bbs rims sum more and nice arrangement for the front spotlight
Mini MONSTER!
awesome.
the body r&d just using a magnifying glass… awesome monster