MINI WRC: News and Updates

The MINI WRC team has had a long layoff between the successful run at Rally Sardegna, and their next World Rally Championship event, the Rally of Finland on July 28th. Catch up with the MINI WRC team and read more on the busy few weeks they have had in preparation for their next big race…

A quick recap…

The MINI WRC team posted some impressive times at their first official event, Rally Italia Sardegna. Dani Sordo finished in 6th place overall. Unfortunately, driver Kris Meeke experienced throttle issues early in competition, and was forced to remove himself from the remainder of competition. The MINI team was awarded the Spirit of the Rally Award.

And now, the news...

• The MINI team introduced the MINI John Cooper Works WRC car to their hometown fans at the Cornbury Park Rally Show in Oxford, England. This marked one of many public relations tour stops for the MINI team. Lucky VIP members were treated to a ride in the WRC car. (May 14 -15).

• The MINI team underwent initial tarmac testing runs in Sanremo, Italy. The practice was designed to fine tune the WRC car for upcoming Championship events in Germany, France and Spain, all of which are run on tarmac. Kris Meeke has experienced success on this smoother surface, winning the Belgium Ypres Rally and Rallye Sanremo on his way to the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge. (June 2)

• Kris Meeke and the MINI WRC car made a splash on the international hit TV show Top Gear by racing Olympic champion skeleton racer Amy Williams on a specially designed snow course. Meeke (accompanied by host James May) set a blistering pace around the course, but was he fast enough to beat the gold medalist? (June 22)

• Meeke and Sordo rounded out June with additional sealed-road testing in Germany, logging over 1000km in additional trial runs before heading back to England for the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Recount festival spectator Daniel Peel’s memorable stage-run with Meeke here. (July 2)

• With Rally of Finland quickly approaching, the MINI Team has been scrambling to get in a few more reps before the big event. Meeke and Sordo had planned to participate in the Rally Estonia as a precursor to Finland, but Meeke incurred damage to the vehicle which has forced the team to remove themselves from the Estonia event.

Here’s hoping that the team gets itself ready for a great run on Finland! Stay tuned for a complete update at the conclusion of the race.

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