MINI WRC Rally d’Italia debut in pictures

After a long build up the MINI WRC made it’s full race debut at Rally d’Italia on the weekend. Dani Sordo achieved consistent results bringing his car home in sixth place. Kris Meeke had a few teething problems and did not finish the race. Dave Wilcox, Technical Director, has a debrief on the event where he details some of Meeke’s issues.

There’s quite a break now until the MINI WRC is back in competitive action at Rally Finland (28–30 July). Dani Sordo will be back in the car this weekend, though, fulfilling promo duties at the Cornbury Park Rally Show near Oxford.

Meanwhile, here’s a small gallery of images of the two MINI WRCs from Sardinia.

No rest for the MINI WRC Team

After the great success in Sardinia, and a small celebration to mark sixth place, Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke are already looking ahead.

The cars belonging to Dani and Kris had barely arrived back in the Service Park in Olbia, yet the first members of the MINI WRC Team already stood pat for the return journey to England. The team faces a tough programme over the coming weeks.

At the very first official FIA World Rally Championship outing, Dani was within touching distance of the top five in Sardinia with his MINI John Cooper Works WRC. Having established himself in sixth place overall early on in proceedings, Dani and co-driver Carlos del Barrio never surrendered this position. The return of MINI to the World Rally Championship had begun with a stylish debut, which fans of the brand will remember for a long time.

It is a case of onwards and upwards for the MINI WRC Team, whose members are already looking forward to the challenges ahead. It may be twelve weeks until the MINI WRC Team’s next start in Finland, but Team Principal David Richards’ men already have the Rally Germany, which begins on 18th August, in the back of their minds.

Because the majority of the route is on asphalt, one extensive and several short tarmac tests will be performed shortly, as well as further gravel tests. “We must make sure the car is prepared,” Kris says. “That is also part of this season, which is all about gaining experience for us.”

Whatever happens, the MINI WRC Team is “very, very happy” about the fantastic performances in Italy, as Technical Director Dave Wilcock says in his online column: “It all looks very good for the future.” The Rally Italy certainly proved one thing: the WRC Team’s appraisals of its own potential are not only positive, but also realistic.

The MINI John Cooper Works WRC to make British debut

Dani Sordo will drive the MINI John Cooper Works WRC on its British debut this weekend at the Cornbury Park Rally Show, fresh from securing a superb sixth place finish at Rally Italy and where the MINI WRC Team made its first ever appearance.

The MINI WRC Team driver will put the car through its paces on 14 and 15 May, only a week after Rally Italy in Sardinia, its first outing in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). The 1.1 mile stage at Cornbury Park will be the first event British rally fans get to see the MINI in action on home soil and will provide a thrilling opportunity for VIPs to accompany Dani Sordo on one of the runs.

After an exciting weekend in Sardinia, Dani Sordo said, “It will be great to be back in the MINI John Cooper Works WRC so soon after our debut in Italy. I know that everyone in the UK wants to see the car in action and I aim to give the thousands of rally fans at Cornbury Park a great display.”

Dani Sordo, from Spain, is one of two experienced drivers the MINI WRC Team has put its faith . Kris Meeke, from Northern Ireland, will also face up to the challenge of the WRC for the first time in 2011. Both drivers showed good turns of speed in Rally Italy that bodes well for the future. Dani brought his car to the ceremonial finish in sixth whilst Kris sadly suffered a technical problem which prevented him from finishing.

MINI’s eagerly anticipated return of to the international motorsport stage begins a new era for the brand. In 2011, the MINI WRC Team will compete at selected rounds of the WRC in order to prepare for the complete 2012 World Championship season. Based on the MINI Countryman, the MINI John Cooper Works WRC has been developed by Prodrive and is equipped with a 1.6 litre turbo engine further developed by BMW Motorsport.

Jochen Goller, Director of MINI UK, said, “We are delighted to be able to demonstrate the MINI John Cooper Works WRC to MINI fans in the UK for the first time. The Cornbury Park Show is a great location and so close to MINI Plant Oxford, where the launch of the WRC Team took place on 11th April.”