MINI has just confirmed what most of us were thinking: its involvement in the World Rally Championship will cease at the end of this season.
When Kris Meeke was dropped at the end of 2011, following such an extensive development program of the car, it became clear that the company wasn’t quite so enamoured with the world of rallying after all. Well, not as much as the DTM Championship. BMW Motorsport will continue to develop the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine along with Prodrive and also provide components allowing the Banbury outfit to supply vehicles. Even though WRC Team MINI Portugal‘s performances have been beyond dismal, the fact that it contested all rounds of the 2012 season means homologation has been achieved, hence the car can be run on a customer basis.
“We would like to see the MINI John Cooper Works WRC continue to run competitively in WRC and other championships. We would like to thank Prodrive, WRC Team MINI Portugal and our partners for the good cooperation, and wish all drivers, teams and customers a successful future in rallying,” said MINI’s Dr. Kay Segler.
[Source: MINI]