The WRC Team Mini Portugal was Mini's factory-supported World Rally Championship team.[1]
Established in February 2012 after the Prodrive-run Mini WRC Team had its support from parent company BMW reduced, the team debuted at the Rally of Sweden. The WRC Team Mini Portugal was formed out of the merger of the Mini entries of Armindo Araújo World Rally Team and Palmeirinha Rally, which were both run by the Motorsport Italia firm for drivers Armindo Araújo and Paulo Nobre respectively. Team Mini Portugal were registered as a manufacturer entry, while the Prodrive WRC Team was demoted to a works-supported private team. The manufacturers points that had been scored by Armindo Araújo World Rally Team and Palmeirinha Rally at the Monte Carlo Rally prior to the change were removed.
On 16 August 2012 it was announced that Chris Atkinson and Stéphane Prévot would replace Armindo Araújo and Miguel Ramalho as the team's lead crew for the last five races of the 2012 WRC season.[2]
At the end of 2012 Mini withdrew its financial support and the team was closed.[3]
WRC Results
External links
References
- David Evans. Prodrive loses status as MINI's factory World Rally Team Autosport.com, Haymarket Publications, 6 February 2012, retrieved 6 February 2012^
- Chris Atkinson secures factory MINI WRC drive AUSmotive.com, 2012-08-17, retrieved 17 August 2012^
- Mini to withdraw backing for works WRC team at end of 2012