Nov 24th, 2012
MINIUSA.com has flipped the switch on the 2013 configurator for the MINI Countryman. New for 2013 are two new colors (Blazing Red being the standout) and an updated interior design with window switches on the doors, improved door insert design and an additional, small center cubby. Having experienced it all first-hand, we can vouch for these updates as being subtle but welcome.
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Nov 12th, 2012
[Official Release] In rounding off the 2012 WRC season Dani Sordo once again proved the big potential of the MINI WRC. On the final day of the Rallye Spain, Dani won four of six special stages.
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Oct 23rd, 2012
[Official Release] Sixth place in Sardinia: On the Rallye Italia Chris Atkinson posts the MINI marque’s best gravel result of the current WRC season as Paulo Nobre finishes 19th.
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Oct 19th, 2012
[Official Release] At the halfway point of Rallye Italia everything is running to plan for the WRC Team MINI Portugal. Chris Atkinson ends Friday’s proceedings in fifth place overall; after eight special stages contested, Paulo Nobre lies 14th. continued →
Oct 12th, 2012
MINI announced officially today that they are pulling out of “works involvement” in the FIA World Rally Championship at the end of the 2012 season. What does that mean? It means that MINI is no longer fielding a factory racing team in the WRC. Does this mean the end of MINIs racing in WRC? Not at all. In fact, BMW will continue to develop the 1.6L racing engine with Prodrive, and Prodrive will continue to develop the Countryman racing chassis and sell it to privateer racing teams.
By fielding a factory racing team for two years and competing in the entire WRC series, MINI has accomplished what it set out to do: get MINIs officially back into rally racing.
By the end of the season WRC Team MINI Portugal will have competed in every rally in 2012. As such, in accordance with FIA regulations, we will have achieved the WRC homologation for the MINI John Cooper Works.
Now it’s up to BMW Motorsports, Prodrive and privateer teams to keep MINIs competitive. Obviously, we’re sad to see the official MINI team go, but the car has been proven competitive with several podium finishes — including a second place podium finish at Monte Carlo. Now it’s time for the right team to come along and push their MINIs through to the championship. Full press release after the break.
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Aug 28th, 2012
[Official Release] A controlled drive on all 15 special stages making up the 2012 Rally Deutschland saw Chris Atkinson secure fifth place overall upon his MINI WRC debut. Dani Sordo finished ninth. continued →
Aug 20th, 2012
Team MINI WRC has recruited accomplished World Rally Championship driver Chris Atkinson to pilot the lead car for Rally Portugal. He’ll get his feet wet with Team MINI in the Rallye Deutschland on August 24 along with co-driver Stephane Prevot on that race’s tarmac stages, but it’s still a mid-season driver change for Team MINI and he’ll have to get up to speed quickly. Why the mid-season change? The Motor Report put it this way:
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