Countryman Mini Countryman rally car shown testing for WRC

[Bartek S.]

Press Release

MINI Countryman WRC completes shakedown.

* 09.09.2010
* Press Release

Munich. The new MINI Countryman World Rally Car has successfully completed its shakedown phase at Prodrive's private proving ground in Warwickshire.

This initial part of the car's test and development programme took place with the engineering team driving the car over four days, primarily on tarmac, but also including several kilometres on loose surfaces and Prodrive's low grip facility. The car will now travel to Portugal for a week of testing on gravel.

"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, while design of the final World Rally Car bodywork is underway.

 

[bmer]

Why is it based on the Countryman and not the Cooper? 4WD can't be the reason (or at least not the only reason) since neither production C4 nor production Focus have it.

 

[Giannis]

Maybe marketing?

 

[kexo006]

Why is it based on the Countryman and not the Cooper? 4WD can't be the reason (or at least not the only reason) since neither production C4 nor production Focus have it.

According to David Richards, this is the reason:

“The traditional way of producing a rally car is that a manufacturer comes along and asks you to make a car out of this product. Instead, we took the new regulations and said, right, what would the ultimate car look like? We used reverse engineering. Three months in, we looked at what we’d got and analysed this against the cars of all the manufacturers in the world. By March 2009 we had come up with 11 target cars. Then we went to talk to the manufacturers.”

“Ironically the MINI wasn’t on that list because the car as we knew it was too small. It just didn’t fit the rules. But during discussions we found out that a new, larger car was in development - the four-door Countryman - and it went straight to the top of our list. Firstly, as being just about perfect in dimensions and layout, and secondly being one of the most iconic names and rally brands ever.”

More: MINI’s return to the WRC - David Richards Q&A

 

[Mr Robert]

No pressure, then ;-)

 

[Centurion]

That's pretty cool, the car is suited for rally -- it's barely heavier than your average four door hatchback, but yeah, it's a marketing effort to demonstrate how nimble the car is.

 

[Bartek S.]

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[NarutoRamen]

Sounds like an RC car, in a good way.

 

[Pekka]

"The MINI Countryman WRC has completed its 1st shakedown phase and is ready to rally! This NEW unofficial video of The MINI Countryman WRC in action is sure to get your wheels spinning!"

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[dalab]

MINI - DAKAR 2010 Whith video

Sorpresa para el Rally Dakar: correrá un Mini Countryman