Mini at Monza

Motorsport Italia’s 2013 rallying season came to an end at the recent Monza Rally Show, their MINI John Cooper Works WRC driven by Mario Stagni and co-driver Laura Rovagnati. The pair finishing in the top ten in the WRC 1.6t class on Saturday evening and then claiming ninth overall in the invite only Master Show on Sunday.

Motorsport Italia were using the 01C evolution of the MINI WRC which proved it's worth with such a competitive display in both events. With plans for the 2014 season already in hand the Monza show proved a perfect end to their activities for 2013, especially in front of a home (Italian) crowd.

Excellent result for Nathan Quinn, good experience for Alexander Gelvez

Nathan Quinn and fellow Australian Glenn MacNeall have done a fantastic job on Rally Australia bringing the Motorsport Italia MINI John Cooper Works WRC home in 8th place overall, a result which is Quinn’s and Motorsport Italia's best performance for 2013.

"Ever since we signed to do this event with Motorsport Italia I have been unable to wipe the smile from my face. Of course it wouldn't have been possible without all my supporters, especially my family who've always backed me and also the support of Coffs Coast Council and Rally Australia. After that, it was over to me and Glenn! If you had said to me a month ago that not only would we finish but we would be eighth there's no way I would have believed you" explained an elated Quinn.

In a drive that proved he had a clear objective to finish the rally and learn as much about the car and this level of competition as he could, Quinn has impressed many around the Championship. Speaking of his approach he said: "After the first full day of stages it was pretty obvious that these guys have been doing this for a fair while longer than me. So, after speaking with team boss Bruno De Pianto we came up with a strategy to drive fast but not take any chances. We knew that if we had a solid drive, we would achieve a good Top Ten finish."

Driving the MINI has been a steep learning curve for Quinn who has previously been competing in an Group N production car on Australian and Chinese event: "I've only scratched the surface in this car. There is so much more to it than what I got out of it this week and now I am just so hungry now to get back in that driver's seat. To see it packed up tonight ready to leave is something I don't think I can watch."

Just as Quinn has learnt a lot this weekend, Alexander Gelvez also had his work cut out coming to grips with his RRC specification MINI John Works Cooper. After retiring yesterday due to gearbox issues, Gelvez and co-driver Borja Rozada were back on the stages today looking to build on their experience in the car and finish the event: "We had a very good rally and enjoyed the stages today. The car was perfect and we could not ask any more. We enjoyed getting more experience in the car and particularly enjoyed the final Power Stage of the rally."

Team Manager Bruno De Pianto was pleased to have both MINIs at the end of the rally and especially impressed with Quinn's performance: "Nathan really did a good job this rally. He had such a tall task working with a new car, new co-driver, and new team all in front of his home crowd and competing against the world's top drivers, but he was unphased. He knew he had a job to do and he did it. He drove his own rally with his eye on his own targets and eighth place with four WRC points to his name is a really fantastic result.

"Alex had a more eventful run, but also got a lot of invaluable experience during the rally. He's just starting his international rally career and every new event is a steep learning curve. I was pleased to see him safely over the finish ramp this evening and look forward to our next adventure with him. The only thing left to say is a big thank you to Venezuela and its Ministry of Sport for making this happen."

MINIs in Oz - Day 2

 

Nathan Quinn and his fellow Australian Glenn MacNeall are 9th overall at the end of day 2 of Rally Australia, an excellent result for Quinn who had never driven his Motorsport Italia MINI WRC before the event. Quinn explained "It has been a pretty awesome day for me out there, driving the stages I love in a car that just continues to blow my mind on every stage I do, I can guarantee you that I have had more fun out there today than anyone else at this event."

Tomorrow the Australian pair complete two runs through the gruelling 50 kilometre Nambucca stage. Stages of this length are both mentally and physically demanding and require complete focus from the crew. "Where we are sitting right now is a good place for us to be. If we can just sit tight and maintain our position then we will finish the day just as happy as today," says Quinn.

Alexander Gelvez has driven his MINI RRC conservatively to bring home a straight car to the Motorsport Italia team. As the Rally Team Venezuela driver explained "There is a big difference between a production car (like the Evo Alex usually drives) and the MINI RRC car and we are just very focused on keeping the car in a straight line. Each stage we improve so we will try to keep doing this."

 

Motorsport Italia Team Manager Bruno De Pianto was pleased with the performance of both his MINI drivers today: "Nathan's stage times today were very encouraging. We all knew that he had potential, but I was impressed with his positive attitude and competitive stage times. At the moment, there's a group of eight experienced WRC drivers sitting tight in front of him on the leader board, but the rally is long. With the 50km Nambucca stage run twice tomorrow, I wouldn't be surprised if we see things change up at bit. Alex also realises that today was a short day compared to the weighty itinerary tomorrow and practised a sensible strategy to make sure he brought his MINI home safely to service this evening."

 

Rally Australia MINI round up - Day 1.

Motorsport Italia are running two MINIs in the Rally Australia, a WRC version for Nathan Quinn and a RRC version for Alex Gelvez. The cars may be a long way from home but Nathan Quinn is hoping to use local knowledge to his advantage, Nathan is a native of Coffs Harbour where the rally is based.

At the close of today's stages Quinn is sat in 10th overall which is an excellent result for the young Australian. Despite having driven less than 50kms in the WRC MINI Quinn is setting an impressive pace. The local driver is expected to shine when the rally enters the forests early on Friday.

Alex Gelvez and the RRC Mini are currently 9th in the WRC2 class, the car proving very different to Gelvez's usual Mitsubishi Evo. Gelevez wanted to survive the 2 spectator stages today with the aim of gauging and increasing his pace once the WRC2 cars head out onto the challenging (and currently very dusty) gravel stages of days two and three.