FIA Vice President tests MINI WRC

01 June 2011
FIA Vice President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has test driven the new MINI John Cooper Works WRC for the first time.

The 14-time Middle East Rally champion, who has won more international rallies than any other driver in history, experienced the new generation of World Rally Car for the first time today at Prodrive's test track in Warwickshire.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem spent 30 minutes familiarising himself with the MINI WRC and building up his confidence and pace around the 1.5 km adverse handling circuit.

"It's the first time I have had a chance to drive a new World Rally Car. Now, without the clever diffs and with the smaller lower boosted engines you have to work the cars much harder, making them much more fun to drive and more spectacular for the fans.It's good to drive a proper rally car again and I think Mini will add value to the WRC and vice versa," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The MINI John Cooper Works WRC made its competitive debut in May at Rally Italy in Sardinia, where DaniSordo brought the leading car home in a very respectable sixth place. Sordo and Kris Meeke will return to the World Rally Championship in July, at the MINI WRC Team's next outing in Finland. The team is only competing in six WRC events in 2011 in readiness for a full season in 2012.

MINI John Cooper Works WRC specification:

MINI World Rally Car specification:

Engine: BMW Motorsport1600 cc, direct injection petrol

Garrett turbocharger with 33mm FIA restrictor - maximum boost

2.5 bar (absolute)

Dry sump

Cosworth engine management system

Transmission: Permanent four wheel drive

Gearbox: Xtrac 6-speed sequential

Clutch: AP Racing sintered twin plate

Front differential: Plated limited slip

Rear differential: Plated limited slip