Here is one rumour that AUSmotive fully supports! MINI to join the World Rally Championship in 2011 with a Countryman. With all-wheel drive running gear and the 154kW 1.6 litre turbo four cylinder from the JCW model, the Countryman will tick all the right boxes for future WRC entry. Surely the might of MINI’s marketing machine would be a great boost for the WRC.
Speaking to Autocar, Mini rallying legend Paddy Hopkirk said, “People love the Mini and actually love the new MINI as well. It would be terrific to see MINI in the WRC. I’ve got the highest respect for the company and it would be magnificent for the glory days of rallying to return and for MINI to be a part of that.”
The speculation does get debunked by a MINI official later in the Autocar article, but, c’mon, you know it makes sense!
[Source: via MotoringFile | Pic: Road & Track]
3 replies on “MINI to join WRC in 2011?”
Liam’s turned into Sam Kekovich. This would be cool, WRC needs a bit of life breathed into it right now or else Citroen will be competing with themselves 🙁
[…] MINI’s full complement of engine options will find homes under the Countryman’s skin. That means the about to be updated 135kW Cooper S engine right down to oil-burner from the 66kW One D. The only motor missing from MINI’s kit bag is the very enthusiastic 154kW John Cooper Works option. But, hold the phone, a JCW Countryman may be coming at a later date, along with the growing rumour of a World Rally Championship entry. […]
[…] last week to discuss MINI’s WRC future. Rumours of MINI contemplating a WRC entry surfaced last August and with BMW now out of Formula One they potentially have the budget to fund a rally […]