Mighty Mini back on rally circuit

Prodrive is developing the Countryman WRC for selected rounds of the world circuit next year. Photo / Supplied

Mini is making a comeback on the world rally circuit, with a car based on the new Countryman crossover.

The car is being developed by British rally legends Prodrive. It will run in selected rounds of the 2011 season, before a full assault on the championship in 2012.

The announcement comes after many years of on-again, off-again rumours about Mini's return to rallying.

The Countryman WRC is being built to the latest championship rules which come into force next year.

That means the Countryman will go head-to-head with Ford's Fiesta and the Citroen DS3. The Mini will be powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine built by BMW Motorsport, and have a relatively simple four-wheel drive system.

The first car is due to be completed next month, and the company also confirmed it has orders for cars from private teams, bolstering its presence on events much like current championship teams Ford and Citroen do.

Mini has a long history of rally success, and the move to enter the WRC has long been expected.

Said BMW sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson: "I am delighted Mini will be represented on one of the most popular stages in international motorsport.

"The success enjoyed on the rally circuit has made a vital contribution to the image of the brand.

"Mini customers have always shown great interest in motorsport. I am convinced we will add a few more chapters to our success story in rallying."

Prodrive has been working on the Mini WRC car since 2009.

The tuning house, which is most famous for taking Colin McRae and Richard Burns to WRC titles in its Subaru Impreza cars, also ran BMW's rally M3 project in the late 1980s.

"This is a very exciting new motorsport programme," said Prodrive chairman, David Richards.

"I believe our new Mini will become a firm favourite of the latest generation of rally fans."

Prodrive was formed in 1984 by Richards, who won the World Rally Championship as co-driver to Ari Vatanen three years earlier. It now employs 500 staff.

Its many successes include six overall victories in the World Rally Championship, five titles in the British Touring Car Championship and three class victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours. BMW was present when the WRC made its debut back in 1973. German Achim Warmbold and Frenchman Jean Todt tasted victory in their BMW 2002 at the Alpenfahrt Rally in Austria.

Mini's rally history stretches back even further: Britain's Pat Moss clinched the first victory with the Mini 850 at the 1959 Mini Miglia National Rally.

Mini ultimately enjoyed its finest hours at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967: the Mini Cooper S celebrated three overall victories at the most iconic rallying event in the world.

Ireland's Paddy Hopkirk (1964), Finland's Timo Makinen (1965) and Rauno Aaltonen (1967) joined the list of winners at this prestigious event.

In 1965, Aaltonen also won the European Rally Championship. The last BMW WRC victory was achieved in 1987 in Corsica by Frenchman Bernard Beguin driving a BMW M3, built and run by Prodrive.