Mini making a return to World Rally Championship

Mini are set to return to the FIA World Rally Championship next year with the Mini Countryman WRC, it has been announced.

Successful in the 1950's and 1960's, Mini fans will be pleased to hear that the iconic retro brand will be making a comeback for the 2011 season. The new off roading Mini will be based on the consumers version, hiding a 1.6-litre turbo charged BMW engine under the bonnet. To be developed by Oxfordshire-based Prodrive, the Rally Mini is expected to be test driven in Autumn this year according to the BBC.

Mini's teaming up with Prodrive is sure to produce a competitive vehicle, as the tuning company has already tasted multiple success in the WRC, with six victories. In addition, Prodrive have seen wins at Le Mans and claimed five British Touring Car Championship titles.

Prodrive chairman David Richards commented on the collaboration in The Telegraph, saying: ''We have set a target with BMW and Mini of the world title within the next three years - we have six world titles to our credit already so we've been there before and know what it takes to do it.''

With speculation rife about who may be in the drivers seat, Richards added: ''Obviously our priority is to get the best drivers, whatever nationality. But I have always tried if possible to have one British driver in the team.''

Whilst the WRC version of the ultra chic city runaround will not go on sale to eager car buyers, the rebirth of Mini into rallying could spawn a special edition consumers version, or at the very least boost sales of the fashionable marque.

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