Prodrive loses BMW factory support

BMW has today released a statement confirming what we already knew; they will be cutting full factory support from Prodrive for its MINI WRC program. However, Prodrive will continue as a factory-supported privateer team—Dani Sordo in the lead car, with the second car sold on a pay-per-drive basis. They will also continue to build customer MINI WRCs on behalf of BMW.

So, what at first seems like a sorry picture for Prodrive and would seem to put a major dent in the enormous goodwill the return of MINI to the world rally stage has earned may not be so bad.

Prodrive chairman, David Richards, explains, “Fundamentally, the nature of the relationship between Prodrive and MINI will not change,” he said. “We will still be working very closely with them on the test program for the car and, in fact, the development of the car will be enhanced by this news for reasons which will soon become clear. There will be more resource for the development of the MINI, which will further improve the performance of the car in the future.”

BMW will now lend its support to the Motorsport Italia-operated WRC Team MINI Portugal. They will run a two car team in all remaining races in 2012 to will be driven by Portuguese pair Armindo Araújo and co-driver Miguel Ramalho, as well as Brazilian duo Paulo Nobre and co-driver Edu Paula.

Dr Kay Segler, Senior Vice President MINI Business Coordination and Brand Management said: “I am delighted that the future of MINI in the WRC has been secured on a long-term basis

“We remain convinced that the sport of rallying is perfectly suited to our brand. The situation we now find ourselves in means the MINI Motorsport family can, and will, continue to grow on the rally scene. With three podiums from just seven starts in the world championship, the MINI John Cooper Works WRC has already emphatically proven its potential.

“With its great enthusiasm and hard work, the Prodrive team has played a major role in the remarkable sporting success we have achieved on our initial outings with the MINI John Cooper Works WRC. On behalf of MINI Motorsport, I would like to thank everyone at Prodrive for their efforts so far and we look forward to working with them in support of our MINI John Cooper Works WRC customers in the future.”

MINI Motorsport to follow new path in the FIA WRC.

06.02.2012

Munich. After Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos del Barrio (ES) finished second on the return of the brand to the legendary Monte Carlo Rally, the direction has now been set for a long-term MINI presence in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC): On Thursday 2 February, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) accepted a two-car manufacturer entry by WRC Team MINI Portugal into the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers. As a consequence MINI will complete the homologation for the MINI John Cooper Works WRC. The WRC Team MINI Portugal – consisting of Armindo Araújo (PT) and his co-driver Miguel Ramalho (PT), as well as Paulo Nobre (BR) and co-driver Edu Paula (BR) – will contest the remaining 12 events of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship.

This long-term homologation ensures that the MINI John Cooper Works WRC can be used in the premier league of rallying, and other series in accordance with FIA regulations, up to and including 2018. The cooperation with Prodrive will be put on a new basis. Prodrive remains responsible for the construction and support of MINI John Cooper Works WRC customer vehicles, and will continue to work with the BMW Group on the further development of the car. The WRC Team, run by Prodrive, will from now on start as a works-supported private team.

“I am delighted that the future of MINI in the WRC has been secured on a long-term basis,” said Dr. Kay Segler, Senior Vice President MINI Business Coordination and Brand Management. “We remain convinced that the sport of rallying is perfectly suited to our brand. The situation we now find ourselves in means the MINI Motorsport family can, and will, continue to grow on the rally scene. With three podiums from just seven starts in the world championship, the MINI John Cooper Works WRC has already emphatically proven its potential. I am confident that our customer teams around the world will continue to thrill MINI fans with this car over the coming years. The FIA was just as interested in the long-term presence of the MINI brand in the WRC as we were, and was actively involved in finding a constructive solution. We are grateful for the good cooperation and the understanding it has shown us.”

Segler added: “With its great enthusiasm and hard work, the Prodrive team has played a major role in the remarkable sporting success we have achieved on our initial outings with the MINI John Cooper Works WRC. On behalf of MINI Motorsport, I would like to thank everyone at Prodrive for their efforts so far and we look forward to working with them in support of our MINI John Cooper Works WRC customers in the future.”