Dani Sordo and Mini SPC to compete in Tour de Corse
If you thought news about famous Tour de Corse Rally being televised live by Eurosport this year is fantastic, wait till you hear this: Dani Sordo and Prodrive will take part in this event as well, with Spaniard attempting to steal the show from the all-conquering Škoda armada in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Sordo will switch from his usual Mini John Cooper Works WRC car and use Mini John Cooper Works Super Production Car (SPC), Mini’s take on so-called “entry class car” with smaller turbine restrictor and less elaborate aero package. Actually, Prodrive will provide only engineering support to the SMG Motorsport team who will run the car, owned by Drive-Pro. Prodrive and Drive-Pro. Got to love the names.
This is indeed great news and hopefully Sordo can at least replicate some of the successes he had on Corsica, where he scored third on two occassions, 2006 and 2007. As for Prodrive and Mini, well, I can’t say I would not like to see them doing IRC at least, if WRC is reserved for cash carriers.
Full Prodrive release after More link.
Prodrive WRC Team driver Dani Sordo will compete at the Tour de Corse, the next round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), in a MINI John Cooper Works Super Production Car (SPC). The car owned by Drive-Pro and run by SMG Motorsport will have engineering support from Prodrive.
The event will be the first time Sordo will have competed in a MINI SPC. The car is identical to the MINI WRC except for a 30mm air restrictor (33 mm on a WRC); a smaller rear wing, different bumper; smaller front brakes; and glass side windows.
The Tour de Corse is not new to Sordo, who competed in the event while it was still part of the World Rally Championship, taking third places in 2006 & 2007. The distinctive tight and twisty mountain tarmac roads are unlike anything else in the World Rally Championship, but after his podium finishes in his last three tarmac outings in Monte Carlo, France and Germany, Sordo will be looking for a strong result.
Dani Sordo said: “The Tour de Corse is one of the classic rallies and it is a shame it is no longer in the World Rally Championship. I really like it because it is very technical and you have to be very precise in your positioning of the car on the road. While the engine and aero on the MINI SPC are different, the chassis is identical to the WRC so I think it will really suit the MINI.”
Dave Wilcock, Prodrive WRC Team principal, said: “The event will give Dani some valuable competitive time behind the wheel and while the SPC does not quite have the power or downforce of the WRC, it will feel and drive the same in every other way. It will also enable us to gauge how the performance of the restricted MINI SPC compared to the normally aspirated, unrestricted S2000 cars.”
Corsica also sees the launch of Drive-Pro & SMG Motorsport’s MINI drive packages for the IRC and WRC as well as national and regional championships. The factory built cars will also be engineered by Prodrive.
Prodrive WRC Team driver Dani Sordo will compete at the Tour de Corse, the next round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), in a MINI John Cooper Works Super Production Car (SPC). The car owned by Drive-Pro and run by SMG Motorsport will have engineering support from Prodrive.
The event will be the first time Sordo will have competed in a MINI SPC. The car is identical to the MINI WRC except for a 30mm air restrictor (33 mm on a WRC); a smaller rear wing, different bumper; smaller front brakes; and glass side windows.
The Tour de Corse is not new to Sordo, who competed in the event while it was still part of the World Rally Championship, taking third places in 2006 & 2007. The distinctive tight and twisty mountain tarmac roads are unlike anything else in the World Rally Championship, but after his podium finishes in his last three tarmac outings in Monte Carlo, France and Germany, Sordo will be looking for a strong result.
Dani Sordo said: “The Tour de Corse is one of the classic rallies and it is a shame it is no longer in the World Rally Championship. I really like it because it is very technical and you have to be very precise in your positioning of the car on the road. While the engine and aero on the MINI SPC are different, the chassis is identical to the WRC so I think it will really suit the MINI.”
Dave Wilcock, Prodrive WRC Team principal, said: “The event will give Dani some valuable competitive time behind the wheel and while the SPC does not quite have the power or downforce of the WRC, it will feel and drive the same in every other way. It will also enable us to gauge how the performance of the restricted MINI SPC compared to the normally aspirated, unrestricted S2000 cars.”
Corsica also sees the launch of Drive-Pro & SMG Motorsport’s MINI drive packages for the IRC and WRC as well as national and regional championships. The factory built cars will also be engineered by Prodrive.
