Sordo to debut new MINI S2000 in Corsica

Dani Sordo will drive the upgraded MINI John Cooper Works Super 2000 at Rally Corsica next week. Prodrive has applied the enhancements introduced on the World Rally Car at Rally Portugal on to the S2000 car.

All the modifications are identical except for the revised front bumper and large rear wing, which are not applicable under S2000 regulations.

The upgrades include the new induction system and electric water pump on the 1.6 turbo engine. For Intercontinental Rally Championship regulations the engine has been remapped to run with a 30 mm restrictor. Dyno tests have shown the engine revisions give approximately a 10 bhp improvement in peak power.

Sordo’s car was shaken down this week by Prodrive technical director, David Lapworth, who was driving the car for the first time. Lapworth said: “The car is even better than I could have hoped, indeed the changes almost seem to have an even greater impact on this car than the WRC. While the 30mm air restrictor does mean the MINI’s peak power will be down on that of the unrestricted normally aspirated two litre cars Dani will be up against in Corsica, with the turbo, the car is far more driveable and the power is available across a much broader rev band.”

Sordo is driving a Drive-Pro owned MINI run by SMG Motorsport with engineering support from Prodrive.
– Credit: Prodrive.