Prodrive was founded in 1984, and has established itself as one of
motorsport's leading independent teams. Currently employing over 500 staff, the
company is based in Banbury (GB). Among other successes, Prodrive has to date
won six World Rally Championships, five British Touring Car titles, and scored
three class victories in France's classic Le Mans 24 Hours.
Kris Meeke
has been confirmed as the first driver to compete for Prodrive in the MINI WRC.
The rally ace from Dungannon (GB) first came to prominence when he won the
British Junior Rally Championship in 2002. Numerous victories and titles were to
follow. With support from his long-term mentor and former rally world champion,
the late Colin McRae (GB), Meeke has been able to successfully establish himself
on the rally scene. The Northern Irishman celebrated his most recent success
last year, when he won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).
The
MINI Countryman is the youngest MINI model and also the first to be equipped
with an all-wheel-drive system. Therefore this model provided the logical basis
for a competitive rally derivative. The flagship MINI Cooper S Countryman is
powered by a 1,6-liter, four-cylinder petrol engine, supplemented not only by a
twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection, but also fully variable
valve management - so offering by far the best relationship between engine power
and fuel consumption in its class. The engine produces an impressive 184 hp, and
accelerates the MINI Cooper S Countryman from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds.
As part of the MINIMALISM concept, a range of fuel- and emission-reducing
features are fitted as standard and/or in appropriate combinations, including
Brake Energy Regeneration, the Auto Start/Stop function, Shift Point Display and
the need-based operation of ancillary components.
The heart of the MINI
WRC is the BMW Motorsport-developed 1.6 liter, four cylinder Di turbocharged
engine which can be deployed not only in the WRC, but also in other
championships running to the FIA's Super2000 regulations. The power transmission
takes place via an Xtrac 6-speed, sequential gearbox. For its outings on the
rally stages, the MINI Countryman chassis has been fitted with a roll cage
developed by Prodrive, which exceeds the strict safety.
MINI WRC: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications
