Works Mini Teams Leaving WRC in 2013

After just two years of competition MiniMINI (BMW) MINI WRCGermany, 2010 > present12 photos
has announced that it will no longer have a works WRC team starting in 2013. 

It released this statement on its web site on October 12:  “MINI will abandon its works involvement in the WRC at the end of the 2012 season. By the end of the season WRC Team MINI Portugal will have competed in every rally in 2012. As such, in accordance with FIA regulations, we will have achieved the WRC homologation for the MINI John Cooper Works. In doing so, we would have achieved the prerequisites to allow those interested to continue to run the car in the WRC on a customer rallying basis. BMW Motorsport will continue to further develop the 1.6-litre turbo engine in conjunction with Prodrive. In a very difficult commercial environment, MINI has played an active role in ensuring that friends of the MINI brand can continue to participate in motorsport. As such, the MINI family is retaining its presence on various international platforms and getting even closer to its customers. We would like to see the MINI John Cooper Works WRC continue to run competitively in WRC and other championships. We would like to thank Prodrive, WRC Team MINI Portugal and our partners for the good cooperation, and wish all drivers, teams and customers a successful future in rallying," said Dr. Kay Segler, Senior Vice President MINI Business Coordination and Brand Management.

The cars will still be available to privateer teams through BMW Motorsport and Prodrive. 

Mini raced in 12 of 13 rallies in 2011 but scored no points because the car was considered a development entry. They became a full entry for the 2012 season. The team has scored three podium finishes and three top-ten finishes.  

The team says that it will finish the last two rounds of the season to ensure that privateer teams can compete in 2013.