With the FIA having passed new regulation with regard to the 2011 World Rally Championship, stalwarts Ford and Citroen have been hard at work developing and preparing the new-spec cars for next year’s season with another championship contender, Mini, hot on their heels. The Paris Motor Show is where the cars make their international debut.
All eyes will undoubtedly be on Mini as the Prodrive-managed team plans to compete in only six of the 13 scheduled rounds in 2011, contesting the entire 2011 championship thereafter. Powered by the series regulation 1,6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is limited to 224 kW, the Countryman WRC has already been introduced to Prodrive’s Warwickshire proving ground during developmental phases. Kris Meeke, current Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) champion, has been confirmed as a driver for the Mini WRC team.
“Mini is a cult brand which left a lasting impression during its previous motorsport campaigns. We are both extremely happy and proud to be on board as a partner when MINI returns to rallying. We aim to use 2011 as a preparatory year, amassing experience in order to ensure we are fully competitive from the start of the following season. But let’s not underestimate the task ahead of us nor the stiff competition we will face on the way, however our target is firmly set on winning the World Championship title again with Mini,” says Prodrive chairman David Richards.
Next up is Ford with the Fiesta WRC, developed in co-operation with Stobart M-Sport. The Fiesta is arguably the car with the most development behind it and already an international icon, as it has been in action since the beginning of this year, campaigning under S2000 rules in the IRC and S-WRC as well as having won gold and silver medals in the Rally Car and Super Rally classes at this year’s X Games in July – not to mention internet video sensation and DC Shoes founder Ken Block having fun at L'Autodrome de Linas with his 458 kW Fiesta adding to the global appeal.
"This is a thrilling time for everyone involved in the car's development. Countless hours have gone into the Fiesta RS WRC to reach this point, and for the car to be unveiled in public for the first time is a proud moment for us. We are right on track with our development and the team is delighted with testing to date. Another major step forward will be taken at the start of October when the car tests in full 2011 technical specification for the first time,” says BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team and M-Sport director Malcolm Wilson.
Waiting in the wings is the new DS3 WRC by current champion Citroën-Total. Having won the WRC manufacturers title on the trot from 2003 to 2005, the team is destined for a second hat-trick this season after warding off primary challengers Ford since 2008… The French outfit boasts two of the sports hottest properties too – current and six-time champion Sebastien Loeb (who retires at the end of 2011), and new charger Sebastien Ogier. With a fresh formula and exciting new talent about to join the WRC fray, we can predict (safely) that for the first time in a few years WRC is once again unpredictable.