From 2011, the brand will compete at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and will go on to contest the entire season from 2012 onwards. This involvement is planned for several years.
The car to be used is the Mini Countryman WRC, which is being developed by Prodrive. It will be powered by a 1.6 turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport. The car complies with the new Super2000 regulations put in place by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which stipulate the use of turbo engines with 1,600 cc displacement and four-wheel drive combined with an increased emphasis on road relevant technologies.
The first test drive for the Mini Countryman WRC, which will also be available to customer teams, is planned for autumn 2010. In the 1960s, the MINI Cooper S caused a sensation with victories at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally.
