“The goal in the debut season is to gain valuable experience to be perfectly prepared to take on the entire 2012 World Rally Championship,” stated the press release about the car that will tackle only 6 rounds of the 2011 WRC in the hands of works drivers Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke.
Based on the MINI Countryman production model, the car was tested thoroughly through the last few months and its final livery and color scheme was presented to the media earlier today.
“We have been working towards this moment for more than two years and it is truly exciting to be launching the MINI WRC Team and what I believe is the most stunning car in World Rallying, the MINI John Cooper Works WRC,” said Prodrive boss David Richards at the car's official launch event.
“We have an experienced team, a talented driver pairing and, most importantly of all, a strong partnership with MINI. We are now eagerly looking forward to demonstrating the performance of the car on its debut in Sardinia in just a few weeks.”
Former rally drivers Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen began the show at Oxford by driving onto the stage at the wheel of the legendary Classic Mini Cooper S, before the new MINI rally car was unveiled to the media representatives. Sordo and Meeke also attended the event.
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