The Ultimate Rally Minis
For Hire or Sale
Rover developed these two unique cars, to be the Ultimate in Rallying Mini’s, with the aim of contesting a selective programme of World Rally Championship Events, as a Factory backed team. Rover spared no expense on the build of the cars, with each one costing over £60,000 to complete not to mention development costs. The cars were built and tested on tarmac circuit events such as Nurburing during 1996, where the cars achieved a one, two finish in class. From this testing and competition, the final set-up was completed to develop the two cars for entry into the World Rally championship event of Monte Carlo in January 1997. This was to be the first of a series of events, but due to changes at Rover, became the last outing on the world stage under Rover's Banner.
The cars were made available to W.P.M in early 1999, and re-prepared for use on the tarmac rounds of the British Rally Championship.
World Rally Championship: 1997 Monte Carlo
British Rally Championship: 1999 Jim Clarke Memorial, Ulster International and The Manx International.
1293cc fuel Injected engine with Weber Alpha engine management and paddle clutch. Transmission is via a six speed straight cut ‘dog box’ driving through a racing paddle clutch. The car is fitted with adjustable ride height suspension and damper rating, front and rear Group ‘A’ anti-roll bars, adjustable rose jointed lower arms and tie rods on the front, with adjustable camber brackets on the rear. Braking is via a dashboard adjustable, brake bias pedal box, 280 mm brake discs on aluminium bells on the front with AP four pot racing calipers. Rear brakes are drum type with finned aluminium brake drums and hydraulic handbrake. All brake piping is of the aircraft type. Steering is via heavy-duty Group ‘A’ steering rack with ‘rose jointed’ track rod ends. Aircraft specification Lightweight wiring loom, stack data logging mounted in purpose made Group ‘A’ dash board. Interior panels in carbon fibre finished with mostly gold anodised aluminium fittings.
Race events: Nurburing 1996 2nd in class.
World Rally Championship:1997 Monte Carlo, best overseas finisher in Group ‘N’.
Fuel injected 1275cc engine with standard engine management,competition brake material, competition suspension, standard transmission and gearbox Complying with the regulations.There is a considerable amount of documented history available with this car, including copies of official Rover Team Photographs from the Monte Carlo Rally, and possibly the original Pace Notes and Schedules for the same. This car was featured in its Monte Livery as a diecast Corgi ® model, one of which is also in the cars "sale package".
The fuel system comprises of twin high-pressure fuel pumps fed via aircraft type braided hose from a high capacity aircraft style ‘bag tank.’ The car has a fully seam welded body shell with welded in ‘T45’ multipoint roll cage, finished inside and out in red with white roof. Recaro seats with six point Willans safety harnesses and plumbed in fire extinguisher system. The exterior boast wide ‘sports pack’ arches, a works type ‘four lamp’ pod and thirteen inch minilite style alloy wheels with Michelin racing tyres.
The two Ex Works Minis are no longer available for sale, and this page has been left here purely for information purposes only.This page and the information on it is part of Motorsport history, with the rights to the Mini owned by BMW and the end of production of the Mini, as we know it. Never again can there be a truly British built, Rover Ex works Motorsport Mini such as these.
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The Cars are no longer available for hire, but West Pennine Motorsport can still provide Group N Mitsubishi Rally Car Hire with full support!
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