Mini convened in Monte Carlo this week to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the rally that put the original Mini Cooper on the motorsports map, thanks to guys like Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk. The company also showed the finished Mini Countryman WRC car, as expected, it's a lot less embellished and a lot more purposeful looking than the car shown at the 2010 Paris Auto Show. The Mini-Prodrive team's drivers, Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke, were on hand, of course. Lots of photos after the jump, including some neat nighttime action shots of an old '60s-spec Mini rally car.
The Mini Countryman WRC is a pretty straightforward example of the new 1600cc WRC cars. It's the same length as the Countryman production car (161.8 inches) but over an inch wider (71.6 inches). It's about 560 pounds lighter, too, as FIA's minimum for a WRC car is 2,645 pounds. Its direct-injected, 1.6-liter inline-4 uses a Garrett turbocharger capable of up to 2.5 bar of boost (36.2 psi) and dry-sump oiling.
The transmission is a six-speed sequential gearbox, and the power steering is hydraulic-assist rather than electric (ha). Prodrive has fitted Ohlins struts with 3-way adjustable dampers, and the car has two different sets of AP Racing brakes (4 pistons per caliper) depending on whether it's running on gravel or tarmac.
93aero says:
10:14 PM, 02/ 2/11
hmmmm. Not as bad in the last pic....but i mean....just hmmmm.....
lostboyz says:
03:43 AM, 02/ 3/11
I wonder if they left in the center speedo.
Its good to see more manufacturers getting into WRC. Can't wait to see it run.
ed124c says:
07:39 AM, 02/ 3/11
I would like to see a toned down production version of this, with the following changes:
1. Ditch the white roof--everything above the beltline should be black, or at least the same color.
2. Ditch the giant pie in the dash. Ridiculous.
3. Keep the weight down-- don't offer anything beyond AC and "stereo."
4. Keep the DI and put in the standard turbo, but with at least another 30 HP.
5. AWD mandatory.
6. Tone down the fender flares, or just make them body color.
7. $32,500 (That is probably the least probable wish on this list.)
roadkillracers says:
09:09 AM, 02/ 3/11
Now you can really get the kids to school on time!
hurls65 says:
10:30 AM, 02/ 3/11
Looks pretty awesome actually. But it's sad that they had to pull out 560 lbs to get "down" to 2600 lbs.
minibro77 says:
11:03 AM, 02/ 3/11
Thank you for the awesome pics IL! You guys are the best!!!
firstwagon says:
07:06 PM, 02/ 3/11
The 4th picture down shows clearly what's wrong with this car (and most cars these days).
The original was a brillant design that seated 4 people. The new one is twice as big and seats... 4 people.
Bigger for the sake of being bigger.
tonkatoyz_71 says:
01:53 PM, 02/ 4/11
@ Firstwagon
But at the same time, we as humans have gotten bigger (or fatter.) And in regards to the 4th picture you talk about, look at the difference in size between the old drivers and the new drivers. A larger car is necessary. Plus if you're into a small 4 seat Mini, don't knock the LARGEST one they make.
stovt001 says:
07:27 PM, 02/ 5/11
I like ed124c's idea but I'd keep the white roof. It is a Mini rallying tradition.