Most liked posts in thread: WRC: Prodrive rubbishes Mini split rumours

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  1. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    #12 Justa Jim, Feb 1, 2012
    Educated comment? I was talking about Crash, who are you talking about? :D

    Jim
     
  2. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #13 Steve, Feb 2, 2012
    A similar story but check out the highlighted area for some confirmation of the background I've only been able to guess at until now plus an additional hint or two about the rest of this rumor.

    No Mini split, insists Prodrive’s Taylor (MaxRally.com)
     
  3. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    #14 Justa Jim, Feb 2, 2012
    Good find Steve. So, perhaps BMW never was totally behind the program (money wise) from the start, even though it seemed to appear they were. I found it interesting that BMW is concerned about VW, but it did not say why exactly. So, if BMW brings the program "in house", does Pro Drive own the technology, or does BMW?

    Jim
     
  4. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #15 Steve, Feb 2, 2012
    Ouch. Here's more...and unfortunately gloomier...still unconfirmed though and of course no word on exactly what will happen to the program if BMW go through with it.

    BMW set to terminate Prodrive contract to run the Mini WRC team (AUTOSPORT.com)
     
  5. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #16 minimark, Feb 2, 2012
    It's on FB now.... :(
     
  6. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #18 Metalman, Feb 2, 2012
    VW is committed to being the biggest auto manufacturer in the world..... motor-sports participation is just one cog on the wheel to help get them there. BMW/MINI doesn't have the same money pool......
     
  7. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    #19 Justa Jim, Feb 2, 2012
    Really?? I did not realize that VW was bigger then BMW. I know a lot about the "horse world", so you folks will have to bring me up to speed on the "car world". :Thumbsup:

    Now that BMW seems to be pulling out and Ford is on the fence, the top names in WRC may be Citron and VW, not to mention some top notch drivers will be free agents.

    Jim
     
  8. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #20 Steve, Feb 2, 2012
    Yep, VW Group (nine brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda, Scania and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles) is big and getting bigger. Their ambition is to be the biggest on the planet.
     
  9. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #21 Nathan, Feb 2, 2012
    2011 Global Sales Figures.

    1. General Motors 9.02 million
    2. Volkswagen 8.16 million
    3. Nissan-Renault 8.03 million
    4. Toyota 7.95 million

    Somewhere way down there

    BMW / MINI
     
  10. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #22 Steve, Feb 3, 2012
    Announcement due next week on future of Prodrive's WRC Mini future (AUTOSPORT.com)
     
  11. Crashton

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    #25 Crashton, Feb 3, 2012
    My guess is ProDrive will move on to other things. Could be wrong I often am.
     
  12. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    #26 agranger, Feb 3, 2012
    As they are a hardware firm and not a racing enterprise, I'd be willing to bet that you are right.
     
  13. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    #27 Justa Jim, Feb 3, 2012
    I am guessing that Pro Drive was doing something before BMW asked them to build the MINI, so Crash could be right and they will move on. On the other hand, with BMW out of the picture, Pro Drive might pick up a sponsor and run with it. What will this do to the privateers? Will Pro Drive still work with their cars? Will they still make MINI's available for privateers?

    Now, lets go back in time. Was John Cooper Works running Mini's on their own, or was their factory backing?

    Jim
     
  14. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #28 Crashton, Feb 3, 2012
    Those Mini's of yore were factory BMC cars. The factory had its own race & rally teams.
     
  15. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #29 ScottinBend, Feb 3, 2012
    I think it will end up just like the Subaru WRC car........bailed on. When Subaru stopped backing the team, Prodrive had to drop the car.
     
  16. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #30 Steve, Feb 4, 2012
    A little more speculation near the end of this one...

    Mini and Prodrive on verge of split (MaxRally.com)
     
  17. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    #31 Justa Jim, Feb 4, 2012
    :postcount

    Jim
     
  18. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #32 Crashton, Feb 4, 2012
    ^ :lol:
     
  19. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #33 Steve, Feb 6, 2012
    There may have been a BIG turnaround here. No details yet other than this from Prodrive:

    "Great news - MINI confirms commitment to WRC and Prodrive for the long term."
     
  20. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #34 ScottinBend, Feb 6, 2012
    Lets hope this was all just "negotiating" terms..........
     
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