It was the news the motor sport world had been waiting for: MINI is making its comeback to the World Rally Championships. This year the MINI WRC works race car will already be taking part in several events in preparation for a full assault next season.

Behind the wheel of the rally MINI will be Kris Meeke of Northern Ireland. Author Paul McCann was allowed to join him on a few test laps for THE MINI INTERNATIONAL, and emerged deeply impressed: “The MINI WRC is terrifyingly fast and can stop on a postage stamp.” Being signed up as official MINI rally driver means Meeke is following in the tyre tracks of his legendary compatriot Paddy Hopkirk, who won the famous Monte CarloRally in 1964 in a classic Mini Cooper S. The model commissioned with reviving this legend is a MINI Countryman adapted as a rally car. The specialist British company Prodrive is carrying out the modifications to meet the technical specifications for rally racing, while the engine is being provided by the BMW Group’s motor sport division. Prodrive boss David Richards, himself a former rally championship winner, has set his sights high: “There is no such thing as second place. We’re in to win.”