MAXIMUM ATTACK » mini http://www.maxattack.net News, rumours, gossip and opinions regarding the World Rally Championship (WRC), Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) and rallying in general Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:41:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 UPDATED: SAAB discussing comeback to the WRC http://www.maxattack.net/2010/08/saab-discussing-comeback-to-the-wrc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=saab-discussing-comeback-to-the-wrc http://www.maxattack.net/2010/08/saab-discussing-comeback-to-the-wrc/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:06:45 +0000 Rasmus http://www.maxattack.net/?p=1848 Russian finance man and Spyker investor Vladimir Antonov with co-driver Denis Giraudet in Midnattssolsrallyt earlier this summer. Foto: Mikael Hjerpe

Russian finance man and Spyker investor Vladimir Antonov with co-driver Denis Giraudet driving a SAAB 99 in Midnattssolsrallyt earlier this summer. Foto: Mikael Hjerpe

According to Autosport.com, the loose rumours about SAAB thinking about a comeback into the WRC has now went on to real talks with the WRC organisers and the TV promotor North One.

The car models tipped to be used by the Swedish brand is 9-1 or 9-2 and the engine would probably come from BMW, that has already developed the 1.6L engine for the new MINI team entering the championship from 2011.

The rumours about a comeback into the WRC first started when Spyker was introduced as a potential buyer of SAAB from General Motors – probably much based on Spykers sporty profile and the fact that the brand had a big and expensive, but not very successful, team in Formula 1 just a few years ago. Also, SAAB MD Jan Åke Jonsson and Spyker MD Viktor Mueller recently took park in the classical Mille Miglia rally in one Saab 93 each. The Russian finance man and Spyker investor Vladimir Antonov wasn’t late to follow them and entered the classical Swedish competition Midnattssolsrallyt in a SAAB 99 in July (see photo above). Considering SAAB’s heritage in the rallying circus, one could at least hope for a better success in the World Rally Championship than in Formula 1, despite the economical troubles that is still very much a reality to the company.

Autosport’s sources claims that Spyker representatives has already been speaking to the WRC organisers and North One Sport, and will continue the talks in connection to Rallye de France in October. However, North One MD Simon Long refuses to comment on any specific brands but admits that MINI’s decision “has given people a lot of confidence in the sport”.

]]> http://www.maxattack.net/2010/08/saab-discussing-comeback-to-the-wrc/feed/ 4 Mads Östberg in MINI next year? http://www.maxattack.net/2010/02/mads-ostberg-in-mini-next-year/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mads-ostberg-in-mini-next-year http://www.maxattack.net/2010/02/mads-ostberg-in-mini-next-year/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:26:58 +0000 Rasmus http://www.maxattack.net/?p=1831 Rumours have been going on about Mads Östberg’s marque switch that will inevitably come next year with the new regulations that make his Subaru Impreza WRC’s useless in the World Rally Championship. Rumours have linked him to MINI, that will probably enter the WRC next year with the help from Prodrive – the same company that earlier ran Subaru’s works team in the championship.

According to my sources Mads and his father (also team boss of the Adapta team) had a meeting with MINI representatives during Rally Sweden together with their friends at Prodrive. I have no clue what was said in the meeting (if it really did happen) but I would really like to know :)

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