ARCHIVED PRESS RELEASES

Spanish driver Daniel “Dani” Sordo will strengthen the new MINI WRC Team in the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship. He will team up with Kris Meeke (GB) when MINI makes its return to rallying with the MINI WRC this coming season.

The Aston Martin GT4 Challenge will return in 2011, with an increased number of races and an expanded grid. The one-make race series which is fundamentally based around the V8 Vantage road car provides the first step on the GT ladder.

Prodrive has launched a new Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for 2011. The new V8 engined racing car takes design inspiration from Aston Martin’s V12 Vantage road car, giving it enhanced aerodynamics and increased downforce. It also has a remapped 4.7 litre engine offering increased levels of power and torque.

Prodrive’s Ford Performance Racing team pulled off a fantastic 1-2 finish at Symmons Plains in Tasmania on Sunday afternoon, when the Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon of Mark Winterbottom, and FPR-prepared Bottle-O Racing Falcon of Paul Dumbrell crossed the line in first and second places respectively.

Prodrive, has launched a winter driving course designed to give motorists the skills to drive safely on snow and ice covered roads this winter.

Visitors to the 2010 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris (FR) can look forward to a special treat: The new MINI WRC, which will contest the FIA World Rally Championship from 2011, will receive its world premiere at this international motor show. In addition, Kris Meeke (GB) has been confirmed as one of the drivers who will contest the championship with this brand new rally car.

The Prodrive-run Aston Martin Racing team will return to the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 2011 with a new LMP1 race car designed to compete for top honours.

MINI is making a comeback on the international rally circuit. From 2011, the brand will compete at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and will go on to contest the entire season from 2012 onwards. This involvement is planned for several years.

The offshore industry is starting to tap into motorsport’s expertise in the use of advanced structural materials. Prodrive, one of the world’s most successful motorsport specialists, is receiving increasing interest from the offshore sector in the benefits offered by replacing metals with carbon composite materials originally developed for racecars and aerospace.

FPR claimed its first win of the season this weekend in Darwin and followed it up with a podium on Sunday.