Just spotted this on Pistonheads

The Mini rally team - run by Banbury-based Prodrive - has missed the deadline to sign up for the 2012 World Rally Championship, which closed last night.

According to autosport.com, officials from Prodrive are in (presumably deeply embarrassing) talks with BMW HQ in Germany and the FIA in order to get the deadline extended.

This is a deeply awkward moment for the fledgling WRC team, which is aiming for a full-on assault on the WRC after participating in selected championship events this year as part of a development programme.

Most awkward of all is the fact that the first round of the 2012 championship is the Monte Carlo rally - the scene of some famous victories for Mini in the 1960s and an event that the team, and BMW, are evidently keen not to miss.

"We have made two podiums already in the development year, we can't fail but to be very happy with what we are achieving," a Mini source told Autosport. "There are a few things to talk about and time has beaten us on the deadline, but the cars will be in Monte Carlo - we couldn't miss the Mini's return to that rally."


You can read the full story here.

I hope they manage to get the deadline extended, would be a real shame if they miss out in 2012!

I'm thinking someone will be looking for a new job in 2012

Plonkers!!!

Muppets!

This is less of a problem for Prodrive / MINI than this story first suggests. The FIA 'deadline' is rather fluid, so MINI's entry will be welcome even if it is a bit late. I understand the negotiations between BMW and Prodrive are on going and include not only the cost of the project, but Prodrive's control of merchandise sales for the WRC team and possible sales of tuning packs to Conutryman road cars. I believe that Prodrive are keen to foster a similar relationship with MINI, that they had with Subaru previously.

I'd be very, very surprised if the MINI WRC was not on the Starting ramp at Monte Carlo come next month.

OOps!!
Just a minor slip up, they seem pretty confident they will be there for monte carlo though. Im really looking forward to next years WRC with the MINI doing so well in its development year

Looks like MINI will be taking part in Monte Carlo ... but Kris Meeke won't

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96830

That's a shame about Kris