Irvine MINI Confirms, MINI WRC Wins Rlly Car of the Year Award

The MINI John Cooper Works World Rally Car has been named Rally Car of the Year

WEBWIRE – Wednesday, December 7, 2011

December 7, 2011 – Irvine, Calif. – Irvine MINI is excited to confirm, the MINI John Cooper Works World Rally Car has been named Rally Car of the year at the Autosport awards in London, the most prestigious event in the motorsport industry calendar.

The award follows an exceptional debut year for the new car, which has seen it exceed all expectations, taking podium positions in the World Rally Championship as well as numerous successes in international rallies around the globe.

Prodrive started development of a new World Rally Car in early 2009, but it wasn’t until 18 months later that the MINI John Cooper Works WRC ran for the first time at Prodrive’s proving ground in Warwickshire on September 1, 2010.

In addition to the two Works Team cars, Prodrive has supported as many as four further customer cars in several World Rally Championship events this year. By the end of 2011, 15 MINIs will have been delivered to customers and in 2012 it’s anticipated that there will be as many as 80 car starts for customer MINIs in the World Rally Championship.

For more information about Irvine MINI, visit the dealership at 9881 Research Drive in Irvine, Calif., or online at irvinemini.com

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As a proud member of the Shelly Automotive Group and one of the largest MINI centers on the West Coast, Irvine MINI loyally serves Orange County -including Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Balboa, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Corona Del Mar, Coto de Caza, Cypress, Dana Point, Dove Canyon, Foothill Ranch, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, La Habra, La Palma, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Monarch Beach, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Orange, Placentia, Portola Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Trabuco Canyon, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster and Yorba Linda.