Prodrive Mini WRC

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Originally Posted by Mirek

If I'm not mistaken these two factors are necessary for future development of the car.

There must be an M1 team.
There must be a BMW signiture on any new homologation.

I understand BMW doesn't want Prodrive involved in either one. So will now Motorsport Italia get also over the development? Or will all the Mini project end silently at the end of the year? After a season of no results hardly someone will see the end of Mini as big news.

Another question. Who owns rights to currently homologated parts? Is it Prodrive or BMW?

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Yes, without BMW's "co-operation" no further homologation would be possible although the cars could still run in current form for 3 (?) more years.
I would imagine BMW/Motorsport Italia will pay Prodrive for future development work.

Hard to know who owns the rights to the current parts and concepts. BMW?

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Originally Posted by noel157

Hard to know who owns the rights to the current parts and concepts. BMW?

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And will BMW be happy with Prodrive continuing to use the Mini World Rally Championship Team name?

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Originally Posted by N.O.T

in this one....
As for Sordo...it would be IDEAL choice for VW team in 2013...from every point of view you look at it...he has winning pace on tarmac, and he is respectable on gravel to gather good points for manufacturer title, and Spain is quite a large market....

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Agree on that. Latvala is faster but Sordo would probably be a more reliable No.2.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

I agree. If I remember correctly, this always used to be the case, whether or not a car/team had been 'nominated'.

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It can avoid stupid situations with the "manufacturer" points and endless pretend teams being registered for the championship, as well as encouraging manufacturers to support as many fast drivers as possible.

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Originally Posted by EightGear

I'm betting on Sordo going to Motorsport Italia in 2013.

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If he gets money backing, the money from Motorsport Italia is from the pilots itself..

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

I agree. If I remember correctly, this always used to be the case, whether or not a car/team had been 'nominated'.

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this open the door to tactics

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Originally Posted by mousti

If he gets money backing, the money from Motorsport Italia is from the pilots itself..

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Maybe BMW will want him to be in their official Mini team. After all, he 's the one who scored all podiums.

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Originally Posted by RS

Agree on that. Latvala is faster but Sordo would probably be a more reliable No.2.

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I dont know how a Sordo / Ogier combination would work at VW, afterall it was Ogier who relegated Sordo from his position as number 2 driver at Citroen. I would suggest that Sordo and MSport Ford would be a good bet.

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Originally Posted by RS

It can avoid stupid situations with the "manufacturer" points and endless pretend teams being registered for the championship, as well as encouraging manufacturers to support as many fast drivers as possible.

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True, but the cream always rose to the top.

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Originally Posted by RS

It's all quite confusing but Autosport.com report this: "Prodrive will retain responsibility for construction and support of Mini John Cooper Works WRC customer cars, while working with the BMW Group on the further development of the car, which made its WRC debut last year. The long-term homologation of the Mini has been underwritten until 2018.".

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not confusing at all.Only Prodrive can build a new car,service a gearbox,rebuild an engine.Motosport Italia service the cars through the rallies.

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Originally Posted by RS

It's Doesn't say whether they will stay with Prodrive ongoing though.

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if they would stay with prodrive,they wouldn t choose Motorsport Italia to represent them at 2012.

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Originally Posted by RS

I don't see this whole situation quite as bad as the rest of you. Of course it is disappointing that BMW won't commit to a full works funded campaign with two good drivers but we all knew this announcement was coming in some way, shape or form. It could have been worse, BMW could have pulled straight away and not agreed to do any more homologations..

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you don t see it as a bad situation? lol
of course bmw have pulled away from the project,that they are going to homologate 2 wishbones or a new bumper that is already ready doesn t change the situation.They try just to don t ridicule at all ,and find a safe method to walk away.