Prodrive Mini WRC

I still don't understand. The results were so promising. Shame, really ashame :mark:

So we are deaming out Mini for just rumours, are we?

Im seriously wondering just WHY Prodrive 'cant get any sponsors'.

There seems to be an abundance of energy drinks out there atm with cash to throw around with Monster, Red Bull and Go Fast being spoken for in the WRC, but surely there are other products, not just energy drink brands, selling well atm around the globe.
I can only assume Prodrive are looking for a single major sponsor which is a big mistake, why not go for multiple smaller sponsors? If the cars have to look like a 4 year old's paint work then so be it (Focus WRC of ~2008/09), as long as the money is there to support it.

So, perhaps DR needs to get his head out of his ass and realise that its not the 90's anymore and you have to make do with what you can get your hands on. If someone like the Petter and Henning Solberg can get the money together to run what was always going to be a financially limited campaign for the fast few seasons, then surely a company such as Prodrive can use the extra tools and resources at their disposal to secure sponsorship.

Maybe Ive missed something, which is quite likely, but to me it seems all too simple.

Energy Drink companies have replaced Tobacco and Alcohol as the go-to source of sponsorship now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by grugsticles

So, perhaps DR needs to get his head out of his ass and realise that its not the 90's anymore and you have to make do with what you can get your hands on.

---

Hmmm, next time you find yourself incharge of a world renowned multi squillion dollar motorsport outfit let us know will you?

Prodrive upgrades WRC Mini car with over 100 modifications - WRC news - AUTOSPORT.com

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gypseywilson

Prodrive gave a good car to Armindo on the Rally of Portugal 2011, but that was made by mistake. After that the WRC from MI was always slower than the S2000 1.6T that Armindo drove in Portugal, and much slower than the Prodrive's Mini.

---

Why would Prodrive do that? I don't believe that for a minute.[/QUOTE]

Then you should explain how a car completly new in a S2000 1.6T configuration was faster than the same car with WRC configuration in all the other rallyes.

Strange, no? :rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WRCS14

There are probably no other manufacturers ready to come in GTimad73, I have found Prodrive to be a very proud company and I dont think they will tolerate a relatively minor team being the manufacturer entry for a great car that they created and ran relatively successfuly but only for a short time.

I think the lay offs and further reduction in rounds is a sign. For example they could have ran say 8 european rounds in 2009 with the Subaru and some sponsors which Marcus proved was not a bad car but there was little point. The manufacturer has given up and Prodrive had no point in business terms just racing a car that they build.

Many private semi-profesional teams run cars in WRC and national championships but I,m sure the common theme is they are all small to mid sized and many can go broke or shut down.

With a manufacturer behind you, your companies turnover will go up by millions, your profits increase dramaticaly as do your staff number and size of your premises.

Prodrive have manufacturer backed size premises and staff numbers but now with poor / mixed manufacturer input. Look at Malcolm Wilson and what has happened to his outfit since 1997. They have similar business model, take car makers money and secondary produce customer rally cars and sell for large amounts also.

OK mini is supposed to be developed to 2018 or something like that, if I am David Richards sitting at my desk looking at projected financial figures for nearly the next 6 years with just say 30% commitment level from BMW the figures will look poor. No other car maker is going to touch the company to build a new rally car is they are 30% connected to BMW. Im sure Richards is aware of this too. I would think it has to make sense for Prodrive to make a complete cut by the end of 2012 in business terms.

Wait and see.

---

Completely agree

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by grugsticles

Im seriously wondering just WHY Prodrive 'cant get any sponsors'.

There seems to be an abundance of energy drinks out there atm with cash to throw around with Monster, Red Bull...

---

Red Bull gives peanuts to rallying.

Even in tracking races there were a lot of drivers with Red Bull on their cars without receiving almost nothing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WRCS14

There are probably no other manufacturers ready to come in GTimad73, I have found Prodrive to be a very proud company and I dont think they will tolerate a relatively minor team being the manufacturer entry for a great car that they created and ran relatively successfuly but only for a short time.

I think the lay offs and further reduction in rounds is a sign. For example they could have ran say 8 european rounds in 2009 with the Subaru and some sponsors which Marcus proved was not a bad car but there was little point. The manufacturer has given up and Prodrive had no point in business terms just racing a car that they build.

Many private semi-profesional teams run cars in WRC and national championships but I,m sure the common theme is they are all small to mid sized and many can go broke or shut down.

With a manufacturer behind you, your companies turnover will go up by millions, your profits increase dramaticaly as do your staff number and size of your premises.

Prodrive have manufacturer backed size premises and staff numbers but now with poor / mixed manufacturer input. Look at Malcolm Wilson and what has happened to his outfit since 1997. They have similar business model, take car makers money and secondary produce customer rally cars and sell for large amounts also.

OK mini is supposed to be developed to 2018 or something like that, if I am David Richards sitting at my desk looking at projected financial figures for nearly the next 6 years with just say 30% commitment level from BMW the figures will look poor. No other car maker is going to touch the company to build a new rally car is they are 30% connected to BMW. Im sure Richards is aware of this too. I would think it has to make sense for Prodrive to make a complete cut by the end of 2012 in business terms.

Wait and see.

---

It's time Prodrive started courting Hyundai if there is any hope of them{HYUNDAI}making a come back.