Sordo’s
MINI switch -
it’s
official

The Spaniard and his co-driver Diego Vallejo will team up with Brit Kris Meeke and his Irish co-driver Paul Nagle when MINI makes its return to rallying with the Countryman World Rally Car this coming season.

“There has been a great deal of excitement surrounding MINI’s return to the WRC, so to be part of this new team is a fantastic opportunity for me," said Sordo, 27. “I’m sure MINI has a big future in the sport. I’m looking forward to working with Kris Meeke, having completed a very successful test with him in Sardinia last November.”

Today’s announcement brings an end to Sordo’s relationship with Citroen which began in 2005 when he won the Junior World Championship title at the wheel of a C2 S1600. Five full seasons with the main factory team followed, during which he secured 29 podium finishes and 102 stage wins.

But while an outright rally win has eluded Sordo so far, David Richards, the boss of MINI’s rally partner Prodrive believes his new driver has the potential to go right to the top of the sport.

“Dani may only be 27, but he is already one of the most experienced drivers in the WRC and has been competing at the very highest level for the last five years," said Richards. “I believe with the new MINI WRC and in the right environment, he can now take the next step and add to his 29 podiums with victories on WRC events and become a challenger for a WRC title.”

The MINI WRC Team has confirmed it will enter at least six WRC events this year. The squad is widely expected to join the series on Rally d’Italia-Sardegna in May.