The original Mini Cooper earned its performance credentials back in the 1960s by performing impressively at the Monte Carlo rally. Paddy Hopkirk took the Monte Rally honours in 1964 at the wheel of a Cooper S.

The new BMW made Minis are without doubt fun cars to drive but they have never been used in a major factory-backed motorsports program. That may be about to change, according to recent reports Mini’s new crossover could form the basis of a World Rally Championship program in 2011. The all-wheel drive crossover first appeared as a concept vehicle at the Paris Motor Show last year and is expected to debut in production form next month in Frankfurt.

The new model is predicted to carry the “Countryman” nameplate and is naturally expected to get a high performance John Cooper Works edition sometime next year which could form the base of a WRC rally car. The recent cancellation of BMW’s Formula 1 program could help make room in the budget for a serious rallying effort

The original Mini Cooper earned its performance credentials back in the 1960s by performing impressively at the Monte Carlo rally. Paddy Hopkirk took the Monte Rally honours in 1964 at the wheel of a Cooper S.

The new BMW made Minis are without doubt fun cars to drive but they have never been used in a major factory-backed motorsports program. That may be about to change, according to recent reports Mini’s new crossover could form the basis of a World Rally Championship program in 2011. The all-wheel drive crossover first appeared as a concept vehicle at the Paris Motor Show last year and is expected to debut in production form next month in Frankfurt.

The new model is predicted to carry the “Countryman” nameplate and is naturally expected to get a high performance John Cooper Works edition sometime next year which could form the base of a WRC rally car. The recent cancellation of BMW’s Formula 1 program could help make room in the budget for a serious rallying effort