The MINI WRC Team Holds Official Launch in Oxford

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MINI WRC Team Launch 2011.jpg

Three and a half weeks before the first outing in the FIA World Rally Championship, the MINI WRC Team got off to an impressive start with the official Team Launch at the MINI plant in Oxford.

MINI is back: the official Team Launch in Oxford heralded the final phase of preparations ahead of the MINI WRC Team's first outing in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). The presentation at the MINI plant was attended by many prominent guests, including Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing. However, the star of the day was without doubt the MINI John Cooper Works WRC, which appeared in its WRC colours for the first time.

MINI is hoping its WRC commitment will see a return to the rallying success enjoyed in the 1960s when Paddy Hopkirk, Rauno Aaltonen and Timo Mäkinen celebrated countless victories at European rallies in the classic Mini Cooper S. "The Three Musketeers" triumphed at the Rallye Monte Carlo in 1964, 1965 and 1967. From 2011, the driving teams of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle and Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio, are charged with continuing this success story for the MINI WRC Team. The first opportunity to test themselves against the opposition comes in the form of the Rally d'Italia Sardegna from 5th to 8th May.

Robertson says: "Anyone wanting to be successful in the World Championship must first put in a lot of hard work. That is precisely what everyone involved has done. We want to be competitive as soon as possible. I am optimistic that we will achieve this goal."

"MINI is back in the world of rallying. We are looking forward to the WRC season and are excited about the MINI John Cooper Works," says Dirk Hollweg, head of MINI Motorsport. "We are sure it will be an exciting season for Kris and Dani, as well as for fans of MINI and motorsport enthusiasts."

Prodrive is responsible for developing the MINI John Cooper Works WRC, which is based on the MINI Countryman production car. "We have developed a radical new car," says Team Principal David Richards. "Everyone is now looking forward to getting the WRC season started." The same applies to countless rally fans around the world, who will all be watching as MINI once again sets about making history.

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