2010 Mini WRC presented at Paris Motor Show and Mini announces that it will contest the FIA World Rally Championship from 2011, will receive its world premiere at this international motor show.
The 2011 World Rally Championship will see the new Mini WRC contesting in six of 13 scheduled rounds, with MINI competing in the full 2012 season. In addition, Prodrive plans to make available customer versions to independent teams for use in the championship.
The interest in motorsport among the present generation of MINI customers is massive. The WRC provides an excellent communications platform for the Mini Countryman, upon which the Mini WRC is based.
The heart of the 2011 Mini WRC is the BMW Motorsport-developed 1.6 litre, fourcylinder Di turbo-charged engine which can be deployed not only in the WRC, but also in other championships running to the FIA’s Super2000 regulations. The power transmission takes place via an Xtrac 6-speed, sequential gearbox. For its outings on the rally stages, the MINI Countryman chassis has been fitted with a roll cage developed by Prodrive, which exceeds the strict safety requirements of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
