Prodrive Mini WRC

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Originally Posted by Plan9

I can't wait for the tarmac rounds (for once in ages) as I am hoping that Sordo can finally get one over Loeb. I personally think Loeb is one of the reasons the tarmac rounds have become boring.

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+1 WRC needs more tarmac experts, Markko martin :( , Gilles pannizzi...

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Originally Posted by Zico

What do you mean by good driving position?.. High and SUV like? That can be nice on the motorways, comuting etc but very bad for centre of gravity.

You talk about looking forwards for the Tarmac rounds for Sordo because you hate seeing Loeb winning? I'd love to be able to share your optimism but I just cant see that car threatening either Citroen or Ford.

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Thanks for the comments. I meant that there is alot of clearance in the cabin and you can see over the bonnet very well. You sit quite high yes, but it does not feel like you are in a massive SUV. As the WRC version will be much lower I think that the drivers will have very good vision of the roads, which could be an advantage. I am not sure what the Countryman's center of gravity is like but it is not like the SX4 which was awful.

I have great admiration for Sordo and I think he could have won a few tarmac rounds if he wasn't the victim of team orders. In Mini, he will not have the pressure and I am sure he will feel confident he can give his best. I don't think it will threaten the other cars either but I don't want to see them fighting Ken Block for 14th place; and given the promising looking test videos I don't think that will be the case. But we will both have to wait and see wont we? ;)

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Originally Posted by Pinto

agree Zico this year all i would expect out of the Mini is perhaps the odd podium.

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Me too actually, I just want them to win some stages and give the more established teams a bit of a fright.

Couple of videos from last week's test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKxYEgfcGJM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e73fqFbLiZA

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Originally Posted by noel157

Couple of videos from last week's test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKxYEgfcGJM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e73fqFbLiZA

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Still looks like the suspension is way off compared to Citroen and Ford, the car looks stiff and bounces alot whereas with Citroen and Ford the chassis hardly moves and the wheels/suspension does the work.
But maybe they are on to something i can`t figure out??

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Originally Posted by FVS

Still looks like the suspension is way off compared to Citroen and Ford, the car looks stiff and bounces alot whereas with Citroen and Ford the chassis hardly moves and the wheels/suspension does the work.
But maybe they are on to something i can`t figure out??

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Yeah I've noticed that as well. From rally Porto photos showed it lifting a front wheel in fast long corners. Hope they go well but

David Lapworth in the latest issue of “Vauhdin maailma”.

“In the design of the Mini, we questioned a number familiar solutions used in rally cars and I know that the Mini will have innovations not seen in WRC cars before.”

BTW, why is the “Prodrive Mini WRC” thread a “sticky” thread?

It looks as though the shock absorbers and springs are smaller than Fiesta/ DS3, it might mean less weight in the suspension ?

we have to wait and see its performance ...so far only tourist nobodies drove the car in competition so we can not have any safe results. I am sohow an optimist about the car despite the slowness shown from the testing videos...i think the drivers will manage and be relatively close to the manufacturer cars and ahead of the privateers....we will see.

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Originally Posted by N.O.T

we have to wait and see its performance ...so far only tourist nobodies drove the car in competition so we can not have any safe results. I am sohow an optimist about the car despite the slowness shown from the testing videos...i think the drivers will manage and be relatively close to the manufacturer cars and ahead of the privateers....we will see.

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Sometimes you surprise me with your positive attitude and I have to agree with you (this is somethig that happens very rarely :p ). Hope they will show good speed in Sardinia as both Sordo and Meeke are very good drivers and nice blokes.