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Rumor has it that Mini and Prodrive is soon to announce a World Rally Championship program. According to the same source, the new car is already being prepared at Prodrive’s Banbury base and will be tested soon. It is being built with the MINI Countryman model as an inspiration, powered by BMW’s 1.6 liter turbocharged engine.
Sources say that this new car will be officially launched in Rome next year. Though it will be launched before Rally D’Italia Sardegna in May 2011, it will not compete in any of the first four rounds of the World Rally Championship 2011.
The last time that Mini had a factory backed Mini rally effort was back in the 1960s. So this will be a grand return. For the record, this will also be Mini’s first official participation in a FIA sanctioned series.
Source: Autosport
