Mini Dumps Prodrive in WRC

[cosworth151]

Mini has dropped Prodrive as their factory team in the World Rally Championship. Motorsport Italia's WRC Team Mini Portugal will now be the official factory Mini team. Prodrive will still maintain customer Mini John Cooper Works WRC cars.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97361

[John S]

I've read in recent days that Prodrive were likely to lose the Mini deal to the Italian led team, but I don't know why. Does anyone have any more info?

Both Prodrive and BMW seem to have left more out of the press releases than they have put in them. I see Dani Sordo is staying with Prodrive, so how is the new factory team going to be able to shine if the best pilot they have got is going to run in a privateer team, albeit a works supported one?