2001 Mercury Outboard Optimax Dfi 200 225 3.0l V6 Starboard R Thermostat Housing on 2040-parts.com

Mini to return to the WRC in 2011 with 4x4

Mini is back in rallying, more than 50 years after it ruled the roost at Monte Carlo and beyond, giving a huge shot in the arm to the World Rally Championship. In typically audacious style BMW has announced it will campaign the Countryman SUV rather than the standard Mini, starting with selected WRC rounds in 2011 followed by the entire 2012 season.It’s also a return to WRC for Banbury-based Prodrive, the outfit behind Subaru’s legendary WRC success, who will develop the car and run the team. Prodrive last campaigned in the 2008 season, and have been developing the Countryman since early 2009.

Range Rover Sport claims desert crossing record

The last couple months have seen a number of cross-country record attempts, but here's one we didn't see coming, and frankly couldn't imagine taking place. But Land Rover claims to have broken the record for crossing Saudi Arabia's 'Empty Quarter,' starting at Wadi Adda Wasir in Saudi Arabia, and traveling east across the desert to the United Arab Emirates border. The 'Empty Quarter' is known to be one of the harshest and most challenging environments on the planet, and is actually the largest sand desert in the world and the second largest desert overall after the Sahara.

BMW SUCCESS AT BCA SALE

A WIDE selection of used BMW vehicles fetched a total of £9.2 million at a special sale held by BCA in December. 325 vehicles were sold at the Virtual Auction held at Park Plaza Riverbank, with an average selling price of £29,700. Interest was fuelled by a number of vehicles making their used market debuts, including the Mini Cooper D Countryman, new 520d, 525d and 530d 5 Series models and the X5 X-Drive 4.0d M Sport.