According to Autosport, the near-to-be-bankrupt Saab is considering a 2012 WRC programme with a potential 9-1 or 9-2 car, with discussions between their new owners Spyker and the WRC officials having already gone under way.
The same source reports that a new meeting between those two parties is likely to happen in early October, during Rally France, with a definitive decision from the Dutch company to be revealed at a later date.
“I think MINI's announcement has given people a lot of confidence in the sport. The messages we're getting are all positive,” said WRC promoter North One Sport's Simon Long when confronted with this prospect, hinting that something is indeed going on behind closed doors.
As most of you know by now, the Swedish carmaker was saved from bankruptcy in the eleventh hour last year, when Spyker made a last attempt to purchase it from GM. Although many would argue that such a move from the Dutch officials would not make a lot of sense (financially speaking), it appears a rallying programme would not be too costly in 2012.
First of all, because the new regulations decided upon by the FIA encourage dramatic budget cuts for the years to come. Secondly, Saab would apparently use the 1.6 litre turbocharged engine prepared by BMW for their MINI Countryman WRC, so no massive investments would be needed to develop their own unit.
Saab is no stranger to the world of rallying, as their last entry in a WRC event happened more than 3 decades ago, back in 1979.
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