Prodrive MINI WRC set for Richard Burns Memorial Rally

Prodrive will be taking a John Cooper MINI WRC, in works tarmac spec, to compete in the annual Richard Burns Memorial Rally at RAF Marham, Lincolnshire, August 13th and 14th – just one-week before they tackle the fiercesome tarmac of Rallye Deutschland. MINI WRC ace, Kris Meek will drive the car on day one, with team mate, Dani Sordo taking over on day two, on the asphalt of RAF Marham, which means the car will not be in the running for the event, but should wow the crowds and give competitors a benchmark none the less. “Anything to do with Colin McRae Vision or the Richard Burns Foundation [charitities], two guys who inspired myself, and we are there. To be in a position those guys were in by being with Prodrive and thinking you might have the opportunity in years to come to fight for the world title means it’s important you remember those guys,” said Meeke. “Richard wasn’t much older than me when he [became ill] and that’s a bit scary to think. For sure doing the event would be good, will make you sharp and I’m sure Prodrive will put on a nice show out of respect for Richard.” Prodrive has supported the Richard Burns Memorial Rally from the outset having entered a Subaru Impreza WRC2008 on the inaugural event in September 2008, which was driven to victory by Markko Martin and Robert Reid, Burns’s former navigator. “It’s a week before Germany so it will be very useful... and fantastic for the event as well,” said Prodrive’s technical head David Lapworth. Meanwhile, MINI completed a successful test on asphalt in Italy last week as part of its current focus on building knowledge of its John Cooper Works WRC on sealed-surface stages. We wish the RB Memorial event and MINI WRC the best of luck.