I'm from the UK, live/work in the USA and work and rally in Costa Rica! I've just bought a ex rental car 04 Mini Cooper to inflict some rally into it! Then ship it down to Costa Rica to rally next year. I've been building cars since I was 16 and rally cars since 1987 , rallied in UK, Dubai, Jordan,Lebanon,USA and now Costa Rica. In various self build cars. Now with the Prodrive Mini's in the WRC it's time to build a rally Mini! Don't expect a big budget build! I use parts from whatever car fits. I currently run a Suzuki Swift GTI with Subaru, Pontiac and Honda parts beating the 1.6L's stay tuned

Yes the Swift is a giant killer! out paced the road Cooper but no match for the S. As I'm the only 1300cc car in the championship I have to run in N2 (1600) but I still beat those cars! I have a good fan base in CR due the sideways driving style I have and the sound of the twin cam at 7000rpm! All my rally cars I drive to work so the fun never ends! I'm hoping to do the same with the Mini.
this before I painted the car.

 

Awesome! Cant wait to see how the MINI turns out. Im sure plenty of people here would be interested in seeing a build thread for what you do to it to make it rally ready!

 

Thanks, the fustrating part is I'm away in Costa Rica for 3 weeks until I ship it down here. I've already ordered a ton of stuff to fit when I return and so far I'm getting support from Braille batteries and EBC brakes