Prodrive Completes 1st MINI WRC Shakedown
Prodrive has completed the first test run of the WRC Countryman at its secret proving ground in Warwickshire England. The initial phase of the test includes the team driving the car most on tarmac but also spending some time on gravel and dirt. Round two of testing will be completed on gravel in Portugal in the coming weeks.
“As with any totally new car, it is vital to take time to ensure all the systems are working as intended before embarking on a week long gravel test,†said David Lapworth, Prodrive technical director.
This first test car is running with an interim body and aero package. The final design of the WRC Countryman bodywork is underway in Munich.
<p>Going to need that rear wing for my wife’s future Countryman to match my GP.</p>
<p>I would have done a mud chamo or mossy oak pattern vs. the starry night painting again.</p>
<p>Where is the art car people when you need them for press photos.</p>
<p>I hope to see the finish flick in action, or maybe it was going to happen in this turn above.</p>
<p>Just make it faster than the competition and talk about it after.</p>
<p>fin(N)ish flick</p>
<p>The wing looks like a modified MINI Challenge wing. I would bet Erik you could find one at M7 once the car comes out.</p>
<blockquote>Round two of testing will be completed on gravel in Portugal in the coming weeks.</blockquote>
<p>Ooooh – the dreaded Portuguese gravel. Much more, uh European? than that gravel up in England. If it does okay there, what’s next – Albanian dirt next month?</p>
<p>Marcus Gronholm will be doing test driving in Portugal. The testing in Portugal is supposed to take place this week.</p>
<p>hehe. The Portugal Rally is much more representative of the rough dirt roads encountered in many of the WRC rounds. I gather the UK gravel is pretty smooth and gentle in comparison.</p>
<p>There seems to be a lot of white bars inside that MINI.</p>
<p>That is quite impressive amount of a roll cage. I always get a chuckle out of the look of four door cars with roll cages, they usually look like they belong on a school playground.</p>
<p>Looking forward to seeing the first races to see what Pro-Drive has come up with. In a great many ways this is not a MINI as much as a custom Pro-Drive car.</p>
<p>Car is looking good tearing up that test route…</p>
<p>II looks like a slug…. To me.</p>
<p>Testing in Ponte de Lima?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T_fXEzlTdo" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T_fXEzlTdo</a></p>