Rumor: Prodrive Is Working on a WRC-spec MINI

There have been speculation about MINI considering to take part in the World Rally Championship, but officials tried to keep everything as quiet as possible. The important decision they are forced to make is a rather funny one: on which car it’s to be based? No, we’re not talking about a Clubman WRC car, but it seems that MINI wants a WRC Crossover.

Taking into consideration the departure of BMW from the Great Circle, we realize that the Germans don’t really participate in any important motorsport events. The latest word shows that Prodrive is already working with MINI on a rally-spec car.

MINI’s Crossover was due to be launched this year, but that has been postponed for the next year’s Geneva or Paris Shows, so it’s likely that we’ll see a WRC-spec car next year. Prodrive has been working all year on developing parts without actually working on a base model.

"Right now there is nothing to say and I don't think there will be anything to say until the spring. This is not an official statement from me, it's just the way things look,” said Lapworth, quoted by autosport.com.

“That said, it's going to be very difficult to keep this thing under wraps. Very soon we will have to start involving more and more people: the FIA, a lot more suppliers and things like that. Once we do that, more is bound to come out.”

“It's possible a holding statement might be made then. It’s going to be hard to keep it a secret.”