Kris Meeke On MINI WRC Progress
We’ve got a groovy interview for you this morning. Auto racing news site Autosport.com sat down with International Rally Challenge champion and MINI WRC driver Kris Meeke to talk about how the Countryman WRC car is coming along in racing development. You can read the full Q&A here, but this was our favorite bit:
It’s hard to describe, but the DNA of the car seems really, really good. The chassis, the inertia, the way the car moves, the way the car moves from braking to corner entry, it just feels really good. It was really simple to drive and fast. The aero worked well as well, and you know this is nothing compared with what we’re really going to be running.
<p>Was he talking about the rally car or my 2006 R50?</p>
<p>He’s probably talking about both!</p>
<p>Makes me excited for a tuned R60 All4. I know that it’s supposed to be a safety feature, but a little JCW tuning kit will more than make up for the 150lbs, and should get the 0-60mph down to the 7sec mark, or even 6.9; plus my wife is convinced we need the All4. Just get that 3 passenger bench over here and we’re on board! It’ll look great next to our R50 too.</p>
<p>This will be killer to watch in the WRC next year!</p>
<p>Remember before you get to excited for the ALL4 remember this has a different suspension and I have no heard but I expect a different drivetrain since they want it awd all the time while the ALL4 is awd only part of the time and normally fwd.</p>
<p>AWD will not resemble ALL4, and suspension will be completely different than stock. These are Prodrive-developed components within the constraints of next year’s (fairly restrictive) WRC rules. To provide only one example, the demands of rallying on varied surfaces mean widely varied ride heights & much greater suspension travel are required compared to a production Countryman.</p>
<p>Looks like Gronholm is out, Solberg in: <a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88552" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88552</a></p>
<p>sorry meant Dani Sordo above, Spanish driver from Citroen WRC</p>
<p>Freudian slip saying Peter Solberg, wish it was too, he for me has been the spark in this years WRC with his personality and ability, great to watch. It will be a season long duel between Solberg and Loeb me thinks no matter what they are driving.</p>
<p>^ Word. Love Solberg’s determination to win & push the pace on any stage, any time! Was at least hoping for Gronholm’s experience & input, and have never really understood Sordo’s style / motivation.</p>