Prodrive Mini WRC

Grifone Mini shakedown test video:

http://channel.ellegy.com/

Lower revs than the WRC version but still sounds better than a N4. The gear changes where made at about 6700-6800 rpm.

sound is defenetly not so bad.

Not so bad start from Armino, he's not the fastest driver around and still decent times. Maybe the Mini is not so bad??

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Originally Posted by COD

Not so bad start from Armino, he's not the fastest driver around and still decent times. Maybe the Mini is not so bad??

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Armindo has stated that he has not been pushing at all, driving very carefully. The current version (S2000 1.6T) has far less downforce than WRCars.

Quite poisitve start from Mini IMHO

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Originally Posted by cali

Armindo has stated that he has not been pushing at all, driving very carefully. The current version (S2000 1.6T) has far less downforce than WRCars.

Quite poisitve start from Mini IMHO

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How has Oliveria done?

Probably not that good, as he is a pretty slow driver. Slower than Wilslow, I should say.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Plan9

How has Oliveria done?

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Position 21, 11:27,3 behind the leader.

http://www.vysledky-rally.cz/vysledky/?rz=52&filtr=

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Originally Posted by Zeakiwi

I was having a look at the testing video. I cannot quite pick quite what it is about the Mini front end. In one clip the front suspension looked amazing, does it need to be really amazing to be competitive ? It is the steering, anti-rollbars ?, something with the shock absorber compression, front wheel castor angle? How does the front wheel travel and A arm geometry compare to Fiesta ?
With the longer wheel base the car's outside back wheels might end up in the (Fiesta/DS 3) gravel sweepings on twisty gravel road corners.

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"One of the key tasks we set the engineering team was to make the car practical and economical to use for private teams without in any way compromising its performance. The car will be produced in reasonable volumes, in motorsport terms of 25 to 30 per year, and thus it has to be easily maintained in remote locations across the world. As a result, if you look at the new MINI WRC, its design is very clean and simple and, in engineering terms, that has taken a lot more time and effort. For instance, all four uprights are interchangeable as are the anti-roll bars, so our customers don’t need so many spare parts to run their cars. There are also many innovative features around the rest of the car including the roll-cage design which will make the MINI extremely safe."


It looks as though Prodrive have rated serviceability/ cost of maintenance over ultimate performance/ ability in the suspension/ anti roll bar department.

Not true. Performance has always been the prime objective (naturally). Development and testing is ahead of schedule and the team is more than happy with the performance of the car.
If ease of use for private teams is engineered into the design then that's a bonus. Of course Prodrive need to do a bit of marketing too in order to sell cars but don't worry about the performance being an issue.