Prodrive Mini WRC

Rallyper, I did not read anywhere that they will quit.

This is just my opinion.

From a business point of view, after all this is what Prodrive are, I think they will stop when there is no gain.

Look at Peugeot with Le Mans, they pulled the plug so suddenly I was even surprised. Why did Peugeot pull the plug, Im guessing it was a business decision based on investment versus the financial gain/return didnt add up. Peugeot saw no point to continue, this coming from a French car manufacturer trying to win the worlds biggest endurance race also located in France.

I feel Prodrive will not feel obliged to travel around the world for the rest of the year to push a car that has only half hearted backing at best. Give it a few months and we will see.

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Originally Posted by PLuto

This is absolutely unimportant who is in team. They only need two drivers, which will do (and pay) all events in WRC 2012.

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Meaning BMW has given up on achieving anything with regard to the works effort in 2012, except splitting it from Prodrive? I fail to see how this is in any way sensible.

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Originally Posted by WRCS14

Rallyper, I did not read anywhere that they will quit.

This is just my opinion.

From a business point of view, after all this is what Prodrive are, I think they will stop when there is no gain.

Look at Peugeot with Le Mans, they pulled the plug so suddenly I was even surprised. Why did Peugeot pull the plug, Im guessing it was a business decision based on investment versus the financial gain/return didnt add up. Peugeot saw no point to continue, this coming from a French car manufacturer trying to win the worlds biggest endurance race also located in France.

I feel Prodrive will not feel obliged to travel around the world for the rest of the year to push a car that has only half hearted backing at best. Give it a few months and we will see.

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Why Peugeot pulled the plug? Because they have seen that they have no chance against Audi, so better for them will be to leave circuits and work on their return to rally...

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

Meaning BMW has given up on achieving anything with regard to the works effort in 2012, except splitting it from Prodrive? I fail to see how this is in any way sensible.

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BMW and Prodrive made together project Mini in WRC. Both sides were going into this project with some ideas and budgets. Everything depends on agreements between both sides and how much they wanted to be in WRC...

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Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira

For me is interesting the name Portugal in the team with a Brazilian driver. It would make more sense a Lusa rally team. Or Nobre will be replaced by Bruno Magalhães (without team since Peugeot Sport Portugal close, that could bring to the team Carlos Barros who has a huge experience of the times in Peugeot-Talbot Sport) or Bernardo Sousa (with big €€ support)?

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What?!?!?

Ought we not to point out one thing to one member: that Martin Holmes was right?

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

Ought we not to point out one thing to one member: that Martin Holmes was right?

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How was the most common reply from this member? Oh yes ... LOL or loooooooooooooool. But then again, who is Martin Holmes? :D

As said. In difference to Peugeot Prodrive (and BMW as a the Partner) has reached far more success than expected. That will for sure gain the brand of MINI. BMW know that. It is business, yes. But business that will pay-off if they just fulfill their goals. And they can´t without going on homologating parts to the car.

So this might be kind of dodgee to some people but it´s a solution which FIA and the partners can accept without further complains from the competitors (other teams).

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Originally Posted by Luis Pacheco

What?!?!?

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It is a question. Based in name of team, nothing more.

My take is that BMW want to be the WRC longterm but why would they right now?? There is no promoter there isnt any god damn TV!
Why pay and loose cashflow to run in a series with no coverage, especially id expect in Germany.

Now am I right in that a full "works" entry must be registered to keep the car homologated? As a result BMW have simply changed the works registered cars to a couple that are fully funded by drivers/sponsors. BMW dont need to pay for anything, drivers, transport, parts. As others have said if Sordo in team Prodrive then beats them, so what the car says MINI and the product BMW want to sell says MINI.

The news reports state that Prodrive will still develop / make and sell the Mini WRC no doubt with some funding from Munich. If they wish to rally their own invention on top of this then they must seek their own funding.

Now come 2013 when the WRC is (hopefully) back on its feet with a stable promoter/TV deal and the economy is on a different trend...BMW can swoop back in, give prodrive the cash and run a full works team to beat off the rival VW Polo....