MINI WRC Update (Videos & New Photos)
Today MINI has taken the wraps off of the final Countryman JCW S2000 Rally car. This is the final design and specification that the MINI WRC Team will entrust to drivers Dani Sordo (ES) and Kris Meeke (GB) for its debut in the premier category of rallying at the Rally Italy from 5 – 8 May 2011. Further entries are planned in the WRC events in Finland, Germany, France, Spain and Great Britain. And based on early reports it looks like private teams will line up with the Super2000 version of the car at the end of March in Rally Portugal. (Hi-res photos & video after the break)
“We are delighted to present the MINI John Cooper Works S2000 here in Geneva,†said Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI. “MINI has joined forces with a highly experienced partner in Prodrive, and our colleagues in England continue to oversee the development of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC. When you add the turbocharged MINI engine and the BMW Group’s expertise in the world of motor sport to the mix, you can see we have an exceptional blend of attributes which will take us quickly to the next stage. The car’s technical make-up and driving characteristics make it the perfect fit for rallying. Entering the WRC takes MINI back to its rally roots and brings this heritage right up to date.â€
Versatility lies at the heart of the new rule-book drawn up by the sport’s world governing body, the FIA. The 2011 regulations put private teams in a position to line up with the same cars as the factory team. The idea is to allow for the unexpected. In Portugal, for example, the Brazil World Rally Team will be sending the Brazilian Daniel Oliveira into action in a MINI John Cooper Works S2000, and reigning PWRC champion Armindo Araujo (PT) will line up in a MINI for the Motorsport Italia outfit. Oliveira and Araujo will then swap over to the MINI John Cooper Works WRC for Rally Italy. Prodrive is currently working on 12 MINI rally cars for delivery to customers across Europe.
Three key areas set the WRC car apart from its Super2000 sibling. The MINI John Cooper Works WRC will gain a larger rear wing and its front end will boast greater aerodynamic efficiency. On asphalt rallies the WRC machine will be fitted with water-cooled brakes on the front axle, while the side windows of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC will be made from ultra-lightweight plastic.
The powerful heartbeat of both cars will be generated by the turbocharged 1.6-litre engine used in standard MINI production cars, but optimised by BMW Motorsport for use in numerous race series. Indeed, this engine also powers the BMW 320 TC run by privately-entered teams in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. So it looks like those rumors of a MINI engine in a BMW finally came to fruition. Just a little differently than we expected!
The diameter of the air intake restrictor is also identical, although Prodrive also offers a variant with a smaller restrictor for championships where WRC cars are not permitted. Customer teams can order both the MINI John Cooper Works WRC and the Super2000-specification car from Prodrive as part of an extensive service package (which we published last year here).
The MINI WRC Team has further tests lined up over the coming weeks, before the car is presented to the public at the MINI plant in Oxford (GB) on 11th April 2011. However as part of the launch process the official MINI Motorsport website www.MINImotorsport.com is now live. On the site fans can find news, pictures, videos and much more besides on the brand’s motor sport activities; features include detailed profiles of both the MINI WRC Team and the MINI John Cooper Works WRC. MINI Motorsport is already up and running on Facebook and YouTube (www.facebook.com/MINImotorsport and www.youtube.com/MINImotorsport).
The FIA WRC Calendar 2011
– 10-13 February 2011 / Rally Sweden
– 3-6 March 2011 / Rally Mexico
– 24-27 March 2011 / Rally Portugal
– 14-16 April 2011 / Rally Jordan
– 5-8 May 2011 / Rally Italy*
– 26-29 May 2011 / Rally Argentina
– 16-19 June 2011 / Rally Greece
– 28-31 July 2011 / Rally Finland*
– 18-21 August 2011 / Rally Germany*
– 8-11 September 2011 / Rally Australia
– 29 September-2 October 2011 / Rally France*
– 20-23 October 2011 / Rally Spain*
– 10-13 November 2011 / Rally GB*
* The MINI WRC Team is planning to enter these events
High Resolution Photos
Portions of this report are taken from the official press release.
<p>The ‘concept’ version was much cooler, but I guess this is a bit more realistic.</p>
<p>I am so, so, SO excited about this. Seriously.</p>
<p>Seems pretty tame if compared to other WRC cars.</p>
<p>Can’t wait to see how it does though and wish Dani & Kris well as well as Ken Block over at Ford.</p>
<p>WRC (World Rally Championship) is BIG in Europe and across the world and with Prodrive as the builder, this is a serious effort by MINI to enter the WRC stage.</p>
<p>Not to sound like sour grapes, but I think MINI has missed a great marketing opportunity by cancelling MINI United this year. This would have been the perfect opportunity to showcase these cars and MINIs efforts on the world stage before thousands on loyal MINI fans.</p>
<p>Good luck to ProDrive on their newest development. Would be interesting to see the specs design changes on the 1.6 being used in this and 320TC.</p>
<p>I’ll actually be in the area before the Rallye Deutschland. Anyone know what it’s like to actually go to a WRC rally?</p>
<p>I believe these photos are of the Super2000 WRC MINI for private teams and not the official MINI JCW WRC.</p>
<p>I have been to more than a few races over the years and love them. Pick a high speed straight with good size bumps on it and then a sharp off camber corner. Make sure to find a large tree for cover though lol.</p>
<p>Will we be able to watch WRC on Discover HD Theater like we could last season? This year should be much more interesting with more than two brands!</p>
<p>Thanks for the great write up, Gabe. Well done!</p>
<p>Very Good!! Glad to see MINI leveraging its motorsports heritage. However…</p>
<p>Curious that there was no mention of the US RSR team that competes in the Continental Tire Challenge (I think that’s the name) under the Grand-Am umbrella. Considering that they won 2 races last season and are sponsored in part by MINIUSA, it seems like a fairly gross omission…</p>
<p>Has anyone found an English language video from the first race using “other sources”? All I can find is Swedish. I’m really trying to get into WRC this year but it’s not easy here in America if you can’t watch the races… Well, I can watch it, just not understand it. I do have that new Google Translate app on my iPhone… :)</p>
<blockquote>I’m really trying to get into WRC this year but it’s not easy here in America if you can’t watch the races</blockquote>
<p>In the past, SPEED has televised the WRC, but I don’t know what they are doing these days.</p>