Today's 2011 Rally World Preview on the Velocity channel included a walk through the WRC JCW Countryman showing a few of the changes made for competition. I really liked the rearrangement of things in the engine compartment and details of the roll cage installation.

 

Yeah, I caught the show too. Good to see the chaps in the MINI marque placing so well in Spain.

 

Great show, i want my cms to be as powerfull as the rally edition.

 

Well, there's power and there's performance. Reorganizing the engine compartment to lower everything they can helps. Replacing the multi-link rear suspension with struts helps. Stripping out all that tidy looking interior and replacing it with two seats (and roll cage), parts and tie-downs, and a shift light for the driver helps.

Now, to just get over 300 HP from the same 1600 cc engine - that WOULD be nice:
"The engine is based on the standard 1.6-litre unit found in the MINI Countryman and retains the road car’s cylinder block and heads before it is then extensively re-engineered for competition. The rally engine is almost identical to that used by BMW in the World Touring Car Championship. The ECU is remapped for the unique demands of the different rally stages. Under FIA regulations, the performance of the engine is limited by a 33mm air restrictor and a maximum turbo boost pressure of 2.5 bar (absolute). The engine produces over 300bhp and more than 400Nm."

 

Day Results from Day 2 (not overall):

MINI Countryman WRC cars placed 8th (52), 14th (17), 24th (59), 38th (12), and 57th (37). (xx) = car number.

 

In time, we will be able to squeeze some great numbers out of the little N18.