Thread: Prodrive Mini WRC

Um isn't there business to sell cars?

Thats like saying the fruit stand is selling bananas, they must be getting out of the banana business.

Originally Posted by TyPat107

Um isn't there business to sell cars?

Thats like saying the fruit stand is selling bananas, they must be getting out of the banana business.

Yes, it's Prodrive's business to sell cars, but why would DrivePro sell the two cars they have?

They've just had a successful rally, you'd think they'd hang on to them to try and rent them to other paying punters and make some more money.

They rent the cars and if they don't rent it enough frequently, they have to sell them. Nothing special.

Originally Posted by Barreis

They rent the cars and if they don't rent it enough frequently, they have to sell them. Nothing special.

So that doesn't bode too well for Prodrive if there's no demand to rent or buy two of the more successful Mini's.....

Well, it's sport for very rich people and if you can pay large sum of money, then you'll take better option like ford. Also mini won in Corsica 'cos of great driver.

Originally Posted by TyPat107

Um isn't there business to sell cars?

Yes it is, but how can they sell cars if they didn't had the new version to the official team?
Are you forgetting that in Portugal (where Prodrive debuted the 01B) the official team was debuting a new car but the old version, because Prodrive hadn't enough 01B parts to costumers?
And why the official team don't have the 01B and Drive Pro has one?

With this selling strategy, it seems that Prodrive don't want to sell cars, at least new and competitive cars.

By the way, how many people left Prodrive on the last two months?

I think this thread is starting to need some intervention from somebody in the know.

You are quite correct. I should make myself more clear. I was referring to the topic itself. I think that the guy who is a mechanic at prodrive could clear some of this debate up. It has been interesting to follow thus far. I am keen to know myself what they plan to do with the 01B.

Originally Posted by tommeke_B

How to become a moderator:
1. Make a topic that there should be a new moderator.
2. Propose yourself as the perfect moderator.
>>Invent a phrase for normal conversation which you don't like like "Cafe prat" or similar
3. Being moderator delete random posts for a few weeks randomly say "This is Cafe Pratje!"
4. Never visit the forum anymore.

It works, I think...

Fixed that for you, my almost neighbor.

Originally Posted by Plan9

You are quite correct. I should make myself more clear. I was referring to the topic itself. I think that the guy who is a mechanic at prodrive could clear some of this debate up. It has been interesting to follow thus far. I am keen to know myself what they plan to do with the 01B.

Yeh i could..... but i would probably be out of a job just as things are picking back up a bit.

So no coment

Originally Posted by bubbaontour

Yeh i could..... but i would probably be out of a job just as things are picking back up a bit.

So no coment

"just as things are picking back up a bit"
Say no more, Im in high hopes that there is good news for your team on the horizon!

Originally Posted by bubbaontour

Yeh i could..... but i would probably be out of a job just as things are picking back up a bit.

So no coment

I guess no news can sometimes be good news after all.

Hi

Does anyone have a picture of the back end of the mini, either on stage or standing still?

If so, please can you PM me?

Thanks

Originally Posted by jcatanho

If you consider the rules at the time you will find that easy to accept.

In the "old times" any driver could score points for a manufacturer. That means that the pilot finishing in the highest position for one manufacturer would score points for that manufacturer. It didn't matter if it was a factory or a private entry. This rule was on until the early 90s.

So official teams could took advantage from giving all the technicall knowledge to private teams. And from 1973 to 1978 the WRC was only a manufacturer championship, there was no pilot championship.

Nowadays we have a team championship (which IMHO was another FIA mistake) so M-Sport, Stobard or Adapta cars do not score points for Ford but for their own team!

Reminds me of Mikael Sundström who managed to build faster Mazda 323 group-A cars with his own team than official team itself. And correct me if I'm totally wrong but it was also Sundström's team who gave technical knowledge and hints for tuning up for Team Mazda

Two hours ago @RALLYMAN40 wrote a comment to the @MINIMotorsport Youtube's video "In the Cockpit with Kris Meeke":
"Whats happened to kris he's a great driver look what he did in the irc. I dont think colin mcrae wouldve of invested in kris if he didnt see potential!!!".
This was the MINIMotorsport answer minutes ago:
"@Rallyman40, Kris is without a doubt a great driver. With the re-structuring of the WRC project however, Kris has not competed on the WRC level lately. But there is no doubt that he will be back in a WRC car soon".
Empty words...

Meeke will be back, maybe not until next season. Has had some one off offers/chances this season but is concentrating on 2013 and currently doing some development work.

Does anyone know what plans if any Sandell has for the rest of this season and beyond? I was surprised not to see him in NZ as he knows the event quite well.

Motorsport Italia press release at August the 16th

Beginning but not the End

'Ciao a tutti,

'It’s Bruno here. I’m sure most of you are surprised to hear from me right now, but I’m afraid I have some news that I wanted to tell you all personally. Unfortunately, Armindo and Miguel will no longer be competing with WRC Team MINI Portugal.

This season has been highly pressurised from the start. We only found out following Monte-Carlo that we would have the opportunity to run two drivers for the full 13 event WRC Calendar as a works-supported team. The original plan was for Armindo to run seven events as a privateer. Due to our long standing and successful relationship, we wanted Armindo to stay with the team for the full season and he was pleased to join us on our journey. As you can imagine, this was one of the biggest pieces of news that any driver can have. However, the pressure on him was significant.

'After our Rally Finland debrief and further conversations with Armindo since returning home, we decided that it was better for him to take a break, relax and regain his focus on the sport and how he approaches it. We've created a great history together and it's fair to say that he had previously always been motivated and determined in his career. We've worked together for many years now – we even won two Group N world titles together! However, there's always a point where you have to admit that something isn't quite right and I hope that we've accepted that point at just the right time!

'The decision was not taken lightly and was made on purely sporting grounds. It was not a personal decision and everyone in the team wishes Armindo all the best for the future.

'And to answer the question on everybody's lips...

'I'm sure you've all heard the name Chris Atkinson – and if you haven't, you should have! Atko's a really top guy all the way from Australia, fast and experienced and he's going to take over as the team's No. 1 driver, flanked by the oh-so-experienced Belgian Stéphane Prévot for the rest of the season.

They're a killer combination and given how fantastic the fans have been in supporting WRC Team MINI Portugal all year we really hope they’ll be equally supportive of Atko and Prévot when they join us.

'It'll be his first time in a MINI on the test this weekend, but we're confident that Chris can handle any car he lays his hands on and his MINI will love him within minutes. We're all very much looking forward to working with him and Stéphane and seeing what surprises Rallye Deutschland has to offer!

A presto,'

Armindo Araujo Press Release of August 22th

Armindo Araújo: The truth, always

Following the media release issued by Motorsport Italia, informing that Armindo Araújo and Miguel
Ramalho will no longer be part of WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL, Armindo Araújo considers that now is
the right time to issue this statement after compiling all the facts and seek the truth. Therefore he
would like to clarify all points linked to this matter:

I- There were clear objectives set for the project in 2012. We started the season with a
very interesting result in Rally Montecarlo but only in Rally Sweden we launched the
WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL. From Rally Mexico onwards, Motorsport Italia attempted to
camouflage all the technical problems and blame the faults of the same, to the drivers
Armindo Araújo and Paulo Nobre. From this moment also, Motorsport Italia, tried to
object against my Media Releases, arguing that there were negative mentions to the
team and Mini itself. I would like to reiterate that all Media releases were previously
approved by Mini Portugal and in no circumstance there were no negative references to
them. I always defended the team and brand with whom I was linked to.

II - To prepare the asphalt phase of WRC and the new MINI JCW WRC version 01B, I was
invited by Motorsport Italia, on the 17th of July, 2012, for a test program to be held in
Italy between 10th and 12th of August. Only on the 8th of August, 2012, I received the
GPS coordinates of the location. During the three days I’ve stayed in Italy and I was not
allowed to test the car, instead I was put under pressure to declare myself sick and to
take part of Rally Germany - in attachment proposal from Motorsport Italia, of my
incapability, writing their own text to communicate the "disease". At that time I could
not believe I was receiving such proposal or suggestion.

III- On the 15th of August 2012, Motorsport Italia, requests me permission to use the
license of WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL - which exclusively belongs to Armindo Araújo,
Lda - to be used with another driver up till the end of the season. For obvious reasons I
declined the permission to use the license. On the following day the 16th of August,
Motorsport Italia informed me that I am no longer the driver of the team or any
associated team of the group starting from Rally Germany and till the end of the season
with no justification or valid explanation.

IV- On the 17th of August, I informed Motorsport Italia, MINI Germany and MINI
Portugal that I have collected all necessary documentation about this matter and deliver
it to my team of lawyers, lead by Dr. José Pedro Gomes, who will take all necessary legal
actions to protect my name and as well the project which I respect enormously and now
sees national values in stake.

V- It has been always my position to seek for the truth and respect the justice. All my
Sponsors have been already informed of all the facts and support me entirely on my
decision to take this matter to legal action. For all said above, and due to the straight link
to my image, myself and my sponsors agree to remove all the advertising of car number
12 of WRC TEAM MINI PORTUGAL.

To finish, I would like to inform that according to my duty, I have reported all the facts
to FIA, and I am currently waiting for their feedback, believing that the truth is above all,
and the good name of myself, my Sponsors and my Country is reestablished and honored
respectfully.

Link to the proposal from Motorsport Italia, of my incapability, writing their own text to communicate the "disease".