Prodrive Mini WRC

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Originally Posted by Plan9

It gets worse, according to the article below, X-Raid, ORECA or Motorsport Italia will take over the program from Prodrive. This seems mad none of teh above have the experience and know-how to run a top flight WRC team. I know X-Raid won Dakar but I am not sure how much faith we can put in that as a comparison with Prodrive. Taking the program in-house has not been mentioned.

MaxRally | News | Mini and Prodrive on verge of split

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Don't think Max-Rally quite have a handle on the situation. Much of what has been written is inaccurate.

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Originally Posted by Dirk

Yes, the title speaks for itself, and may be its true. I never said Motorsport Italia is not making an arrangement with BMW. But this is different to a "Total and immediate split on BMW/Prodrive partnership" - this is not in the story, and this is where people are guessing.

I was lucky to have a tour of Prodrive last year. Who makes the cars? Who makes the parts? Who repairs bodyshells? Who reconditions gearboxes? Who rebuilds the engines? Do Motorsport Italia have a spare car/shell? I doubt it. If one is destroyed in Sweden, Mexico, Portugal...oh dear. "Total and immediate split" looks impossible, don't you agree?

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Very few things looks impossible in todays world...yesterday MH has already reported the prodrive split saying: "(...)sources inside Prodrive could have admited that the oficial Mini John Cooper Works runing and development deal has come to an end(...)"
Surely MH wouldn't get so far only by guessing...
WRC: Negociações com Eurosport falham e MINI ultima separação da Prodrive - Autosport.pt

This Mini mess is obviously sad, mostly regarding Prodrive rally tradition, but at the end of the day what's really interesting about all this news it's the perceptible will of BMW/Mini to stay in WRC.

To me it's all it matters to be confirmed.

As long as Mini continues I am happy. Of course I would have liked to see the whole project become a succes, but given the current situation I am more than happy to see Mini continue. BMW taking the project in house would be best but I don't see that happen.
WRC just absolutely can not afford to lose Mini as a manufacturer.

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Originally Posted by Miika

Is the Prodrive Mini team already in Sweden, I got the impression they were planning to do some testing before the event there? Must be confusing times there, if the BMW announcement is coming up within the next few days.

EDIT: Looking at the testing thread, apparently they are there.

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Remember how Mitsubishi left the building!! Harri was testing for upcoming rally when the announcement came :mark:

Deeply appreciate the efforts of all the people behind the Mini project
but let's face it - the BMW galaxy set the rules.

And BMW can make it with or without Mini, Maxi or even a Taxi.

Get real, Mini!
Do it on your own.
Show the MAXI part of your side.

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Originally Posted by EightGear

As long as Mini continues I am happy. Of course I would have liked to see the whole project become a succes, but given the current situation I am more than happy to see Mini continue. BMW taking the project in house would be best but I don't see that happen.
WRC just absolutely can not afford to lose Mini as a manufacturer.

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Youre right, I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that there is a different car competing in the WRC class, rather than just Citroen all of the time (Citroen might as well be on their own the way the results are at the minute, a bit like Subaru before they left...)

Sordo to remain with prodrive WRC A FULL 2012 | RallyReportWRC

"Keep" must be one of the most common word in FB:-) Keep Mini in the WRC | Facebook

14 questions, but only one of any consequence. Either BMW /Prodrive split or not.

Ill Wind Blows for BMW on Storm Promotion - Businessweek

More bad news for BMW/Mini.