As reported a while back, Mini has finally confirmed their anticipated comeback in the World Rally Championship with a Prodrive developed and built Mini Countryman and that they hope to claim the title in three years time.
The new Super2000 regulations introduced into the WRC to cut costs will see the Countryman comply with by using a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-banger from parent company BMW through the BMW Motorsport division. Power will be transferred to all four corners through an all-wheel drive system that is par for course in the WRC.
The Countryman WRC will begin full testing later this year and will begin participating in selected rounds of the 2011 WRC calendar before diving in the deep end for a full season in 2012. Other participating teams may also purchase the Countryman WRC, much like the Proton Satria Neo S2000 that is available to independent teams.
“The target is clearly to be competitive from the outset and we have set a target with BMW and Mini of the world title within the next three years,” said David Richards, the head honcho at Prodrive.
“We at Prodrive have got six world titles to our credit already so we've been there before and know what it takes to do it. We are setting about that task very meticulously,” he added.
The whispers are already hustling as to who will be behind the seats of the two Countryman WRC cars to be contested with the most common tune being Marcus Gronholm and Markko Martin with development driver Mads Ostberg’s name popping up quite often as well.
source: Carscoop
