Prodrive Mini WRC

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Originally Posted by danon

I have not stopped asking myself what kind of people DO like the shape of this Mini-car.
Do I miss somethin'?!
Am I the only one?

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Minis are for girls... :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PoIl...ature=youtu.be

This "Prodrive Mini" project wasnt going any further than 3-4 occasional podiums per season anyway. Because, first of all, preparation by private company with greedy directors, mainly famous with epic fails in the last 10 years. Also, Sordo and Mike are just middle class drivers amongst so many new promising WRC regulars like Attiyah, Neuville, Tanak, Mikelsen (needless to speak about the three factory teams which also became stronger). BMW should better spend some truckloads of money and make a really strong team or totally give up the idea of creating offroad image for this gayish car. They had enough disgrace in Dakar and WTCC.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

And, surely, of BMW's common sense? What more do they want?

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Exactly!! Yet BMW have been getting some probably unfair criticism – Does anybody know the full story? I thought the agreement was for BMW to fund building, testing and development for the first year. After that Prodrive were on their own – relying on sponsorship and sales.

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Originally Posted by SlowSon

This "Prodrive Mini" project wasnt going any further than 3-4 occasional podiums per season anyway. Because, first of all, preparation by private company with greedy directors, mainly famous with epic fails in the last 10 years. Also, Sordo and Mike are just middle class drivers amongst so many new promising WRC regulars like Attiyah, Neuville, Tanak, Mikelsen (needless to speak about the three factory teams which also became stronger). BMW should better spend some truckloads of money and make a really strong team or totally give up the idea of creating offroad image for this gayish car. They had enough disgrace in Dakar and WTCC.

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Ok, who is "Mike"? Attiyah is a "WRC regular" and "new" and "promising"? PWRC regular maybe some years ago but he's no spring chicken.
And what's with all your homophobic posts? I think you have issues.
Where's Brother John when you actually need him?

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Originally Posted by AndyRAC

Exactly!! Yet BMW have been getting some probably unfair criticism – Does anybody know the full story? I thought the agreement was for BMW to fund building, testing and development for the first year. After that Prodrive were on their own – relying on sponsorship and sales.

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Hard to know what's going on but as you say the lack of funding by Prodrive seems to be the main problem.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

Er... do we consider this sort of remark acceptable?

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Agreed, it's not just Britons who like the Mini, far more are exported that bought here

WT

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Originally Posted by noel157

Hard to know what's going on but as you say the lack of funding by Prodrive seems to be the main problem.

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Agree with this - plus the whole story about the Prodrive approach to BMW isn't in the public domain.

DR is known for taking big, big risks - and usually they come off but sometimes (Aston Martin AMR One....) they don't. He gambled on doing a basic-funding deal with BMW for Year 1, then pushing them into more funding for a full WRC program afterwards.

However, BMW is now spending big time on DTM - and doesn't see the investment value in WRC's media package (of which DR was the architect when he bought ISC from Bernie all those years ago!).

What goes around, comes around.......

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Originally Posted by RS

So the big announcement should come today. The only question seems to be whether the official programme will continue in-house, with the Italians, or not at all. Would be kind of strange if it continued in house as the issue didn't seem to be a performance one. Can the Italians really find some money that Prodrive couldn't?

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I think there will be no announcement...

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Originally Posted by PLuto

I think there will be no announcement...

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BMW changed their minds or they will just let things take their natural course?

I think that from beginning there were no plan for any official announcement, I think it was only usual media rumour. (but only my opinion, dont trust me :)