3 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

MINI is back in Monte Carlo and this time it is the iconic version that won the famous rally in the sixties meeting up with the latest MINI WRC. Rauno Aaltonen was driving the 1960s version when he was greeted at the end of the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique by Kris Meeke (GB) and Dani Sordo (ES), the drivers who will revive MINIs rallying tradition this year.

Also in Monte Carlo to greet Aaltonen was another famous Mini driver, Paddy Hopkirk, who won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964. Remembering that time he said: “It is very interesting to be here and I was delighted to see Rauno looking so well and the car looking so good."

Sordo was also relishing the task ahead of him: “I have driven the car less than Kris but I have been on both tarmac and gravel. Honestly the feel of the car was really good. We still need to improve in certain areas, but this is normal because the car is new. At the moment the car is really good and getting better and better.”



More + Photos:
http://www.facebook....id=494940946639

MINI has returned to Monte Carlo with a brand new WRC car, alongside its heritage rival.
The iconic version that won the famous rally in the sixties had a chance to meet up with the latest MINI WRC that sees the brand back on the world rally stage.
Brit Kris Meeke and Spain's Dani Sordo are the drivers who will revive the brand's rallying tradition this year.
For Meeke and Sordo this is a stop on what is a busy schedule leading up to the first full appearance of the MINI WRC in the championship in 2012.
However, before that they will be heading from Monaco to Spain to put their brand new test car through its paces.
Then on the 13th April comes the official launch of the MINI WRC Team at the plant in Cowley, Oxford where MINI models are produced.
Developed by Prodrive, the MINI WRC is based on the MINI Countryman and is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo engine derived from production models.
It's been enhanced by BMW Motorsport for use in series running to the FIA Series2000 Regulations, which also includes the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

http://www.wrc.com/n...tars/?fid=14069

The MINI Countryman support vehicles for classic Mini's on the Monte Carlo Historic (note the 1966 win on the tailgate is in brackets!):









http://www.motoringf...morative-rally/

MINI WRC Countryman, Drivers & Team Detailed:
http://www.motoringf...-team-detailed/

Edited by mab01uk, 09 February 2011 - 08:44 AM.

[crazycoleman118]

i know i'll be looking foward to seeing the MINI in WRC should see how well it performs!

[Stevee]

i don't think the new MINI is going to do well in WRC By looks of it its the biggest car there

[ukcooper]

Thinking that the bmw got a lot to live up to and there a lot better pedigree wrc cars out there on the rally sceen, dont know if it me or not but dosent the bmw look lob sideded??