According to Autocar magazine, the crossover, rumoured to be called the Countryman will go on sale next year, and could be turned into a WRC contender for the 2011 season.
The Mini Countryman JCW will be powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, in line with proposals for future WRC cars.
Ex-rally driver Paddy Hopkirk, who won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini Cooper S, continues to work for BMW as an ambassador and spoke to Motorsport News. “It would be terrific to see Mini in the WRC. The level of engineering is amazing and very diligent – they’re a company that doesn’t take shortcuts. Everything they do they do well - without the Formula One project there could be more money to do that.
“People love the Mini and the new Mini as well. It would be magnificent for the glory days of rallying to return and for Mini to be a part of that. I love the car.”
The latest revelation comes on the back of news that both Fiat and Volkswagen are on the verge of signing up to the WRC.
Simon Long, chief executive of WRC promoters ISC, confirmed discussions for new entrants to the sport were at a developed stage:"The WRC offers increasingly valuable returns to car manufacturers. Discussions are on-going with a number of manufacturers - and privately run teams - who are seriously interested in what WRC has to offer, particularly at the dawn of such an exciting new era for the Championship," he said.
"There's a really positive buzz around WRC at the moment on the back of a series of important announcements including the appointment of a championship promoter, an improved WRC calendar, and a raft of progressive changes to the sport's regulations designed to enhance the 'show' and reduce costs," Long added.
"The recent decision by Ford and Citroen to commit to WRC for a minimum of two more seasons and ISC signing multi-year agreements with event promoters are further reasons for stakeholders, commercial partners and fans of WRC to feel confidently optimistic about the future of WRC."
A Mini UK spokesman told Autocar that the company had no official plans to enter World Rally yet, he did confirm that "if it does happen it would be late 2011 at the earliest, as JCW models traditionally follow on 12 months after the launch of the car."
