I noticed that too. The Rallyman is definitely extremely underdeveloped relative to the cars that aren't still on their first year in the series. I'm sure that's what they meant re development. It's so much a development year for the team that they aren't even running in half the rallies. This is only their 3rd rally contested out of 9 run so far. As to the funding, they're obviously implying that Citroen, etc, are throwing more cash at their teams but I have no idea what the MINI/Pro-Drive funding is like.
Kris Meeke has been forced to retire from ADAC Rallye Deutschland with a suspected alternator failure. (wrc.com)
Dani Sordo is presented with the Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally for claiming MINI’s first WRC podium finish. (I hope this link works) Sordo Awarded Spirit of the Rally ------------ Other good video there as well, press conference w/ Sordo & Meeke's off into the vineyard.
Wow, that is great. I believe they will both be in the mix next year. I've been gone all day and dying to know how it finished up. Thanks Steve. Jim
A great WRC milestone for MINI. Steve, it was fun to track the progression of events thanks to your timely updates in this thread. Much appreciated.
This is very good to hear. Could be the other drivers (sponsors) were not expecting the MINI to do this well, this soon, if at all. Figure the Ford in forth place, was as proven WRC car and it could not close the gap on the MINI. I'll bet they are all taking notice about now. Jim
.....and now they will not sneak up on anyone either. Not saying they did but from this point on, no one will give up any time to the Mini thinking they can easily get it back.
Unfortunately MINI's success has made them sort of a spoiler for some. They're not in competition for the championship and aren't even running half the rallies but they're taking championship points away from teams and drivers who are fighting for every point they can get. I imagine the Ford team are being polite in public but behind the scenes they're pissed. Oh well.
Mikko Hirvonen was really saying, "I never thought for one minute I could not have blown that stupid newbe off the track". Malcolm Wilson was saying, "I now have the whole team looking at our car to see what was wrong with it". :lol: Jim
And the most impressive bit about Meeke was how he could politely explain to a TV crew that not only had his car just stopped with an electrical fault, but his Rally Germany had also ended in the same stage for the same reason back when he was driving a Junior WRC car. He even managed a joke about force fields or similar!