MINI Countryman WRC Rally Car Debut Imminent

Sections: Motorsports | R60 (Countryman) Feb 19th, 2010 33 Comments

According to rallybuzz.com BMW representatives met with Prodrive boss David Richards at the Rally Sweden last weekend to talk WRC. On the agenda was an update on the MINI Countryman WRC project that has been ongoing for some months as we’ve previously reported. The rally car is expected to undergo initial testing this summer with it’s brand new 1.6L turbo engine. It’s unclear how much (if any) similarities there are with the production engine other than the displacement.

In all Prodrive met with BMW and WRC as the weekend served as both a touch-base and a fact finding mission. Reportedly the rally car is expected to make a surprise debut at the Geneva motor show along side the production Countryman.

At this point there are no official announcements but the car has already been linked to Norwegian rally protege Mads Ostberg.

The development of the car was made possible by BMW’s exit from F1 and increased focus on production based series such as WRC, ALMS and the WTCC. It was also made possible by the WRC’s new engine rules which focus on production based 1.6L turbos. All this gives the upcoming Countryman rally car a tangible link to the production variant (especially the rumored fire-breathing JCW version).

In all the 2012 WRC season is shaping up to be a glorious return for MINI into a sport that has a great deal of historical significance for the brand.

Look for more news in the coming weeks as the Geneva Motor Show is scheduled for early March.

Written By: Gabe

eager2own

Let’s also hope for better (and more timely) coverage of the season on U.S. television. It was good to get some of it on HDTV in ’09… but we want more — especially for the 2012 season if MINI is in it.
http://www.facebook.com/ron.myers Ron Myers

This is going to be great for MINI’s street cred!
hardingsan

great, great news!
C4

Wow, it took MINI to get into making a truck to join the WRC.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=544746412 Mini Nyc

oh boy oh boy oh boy!
ScottinBend

Discovery HD Theater is covering this seasons WRC a couple of weeks after each race has run. Sweden race is Feb. 25th.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1046757782 Peter Braun

HOT !
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1145665586 DUDE!

It’s cool but if you look at the other WRC cars, Ford, Subaru, Citroen, this slug is going to be a real oddity? I’m hoping Prodrive can make this blob into a worthy contender. I’d have seen a developed Dakar drive as a better choice and putting a BMW sedan back into WRC as all around better choices. My thoughts.
http://www.lilcoopr.com lilcoopr

Now this is the kind of news I like to wake up to! :D
CraigE

Itâ€™s cool but if you look at the other WRC cars, Ford, Subaru, Citroen, this slug is going to be a real oddity?

And the original Mini wasn’t?
KPH

Hurrah. What Prodrive does with this will be utterly fascinating.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1145665586 DUDE!

Craig E… different times.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1145665586 DUDE!

Then again… with the rumored Citroen DS3 Racing slug as a possible entry into WRC, it has some of the styling cues that this slug does, I could be wrong.
hardingsan

^and i’m guessing once prodrive is done with it, slug will not describe it well at all…
CraigE

If you want to see what Prodrive is capable of, take a look at the P2.and the car it is based on.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=685800803 Michael Campbell

:) :) :)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=685800803 Michael Campbell

Also, the Suzuki SX4 rally car looked good; what did they have to work with?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=685800803 Michael Campbell

Did I mention :) ?
goat

Great news! Looking forward to seeing the car compete… to us “backroad drivers”, this is by far the most exciting form of motorsport, even over F1! :)
Hoover

Cool. I’m beginning to think of the R60 as just one variant of a platform that will allow MINI the flexibility to do a number of interesting things, with a 5.1″ longer wheelbase (The Clubman has a 3.3″ longer wheelbase). The difference in wheelbase on the classic Mini variants was 4″. Instead of thinking of this platform as embracing a “bigger is better” philosophy, I’m seeing a second, but still SHORT wheelbase platform that increases flexibility for a brand that will still only produce small vehicles. OK naysayers…rip me apart.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=588008559 Fatih Veyseller

great news. MINI and WRC !! cool. looking forward to.
C4

@Hoover. We’ll rip you apart.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1134606899 Dean Cory

The Street version MUST be named the Paddy Hopkirk Edition!

So will the car have a JCW engine?

A rally game version for the Wii? Sign me up!
Pingback: AUSmotive.com » Rumour MINI WRC concept set for Geneva Motor Show debut
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1145665586 DUDE!

@Michael Campbell x3… Prodrive does wonders for sure… they’ll need to with this…ah… sorry… slug… ;-)

I still say Dakar would be the better choice.
ftttubrgcm

I hope some really neato performance parts come out of this program.
Luke Levinson

oh man this is so cool. i’ve been hoping for this since 2002!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=814825706 Sideways Eh!

@ HOOVER I’ve got yer back Buddy! Bring on the WRC…lets show the kings of the backroads that the old man on the blocks still got it…I always said that the countryman would allow for such endeavors…WOOHOO!!!

@C4 – the Countryman is as much a TRUCK as a twinky is a sourch of vitamins… you consider a car that has an overall length 4 inches shorter that a 3-Door VW Golf a truck? How can you justify that statement?
http://www.lilcoopr.com lilcoopr

CraigE: If you want to see what Prodrive is capable of, take a look at the P2.and the car it is based on.

Thanks for posting this, Craig! Its really interesting to flip back and forth between the pictures of the R1 and P2 to see the changes. I feel like since MINI is working together with Prodrive, they will finally have an opportunity to show what an aggressive MINI will look like! I hope that they won’t hold back with this car and give us what we want in a street version that follows.

I am very excited :)
Pingback: MINI returns to WRC - www.miniMINImini.com
cze33r

While I’m not a fan of the Countryman, I’m very interested to see what Prodrive come up with as I’ve liked almost everything to come out their workshops.
http://www.facebook.com/ExPatBrit Timothy Groves

Hope, hope , hope
BilboBaggins

I’d be more interested to see if BMW/MINI will be introducing a dealer available version of the Prodrive car. Lowered center of gravity, reduced weight, more sporting suspension, increased power, proper driving seats. Basically an enthusiasts car.

← Exclusive: MINI USA to Launch Laurel Sport Edition BMW to Build iSetta at the Leipzig Plant in Germany →

Sort by MINI model

Recent BimmerFile Stories

MINI Model Cheat Sheet

1st Gen MINI
R50: One & MC Hatch
R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt.
R53: MCS Hatch
2nd Gen MINI
R55: Clubman
R56: Hatch
R57: Convertible
R58: Coupe
R59: Roadster
R60: MINI Crossover
R61: MINI Crossover Coupe
3rd Gen MINI
F55: Clubman
F56: Hatch
F57: Convertible
F60: MINI Crossover
F62: Traveller

Advertise with MotoringFile

If you or your company are interested in advertising on the most influential MINI website in the world, please visit our Advertising section. If you have further questions about becoming a sponsor or would like to see our rate sheet please feel free to contact us directly.