Interview with Dani Sordo

Dani Sordo has been considered a top FIA World Rally Championship exponent for many years.

Together with new co-driver Carlos del Barrio he has now made his services available to the MINI
WRC Team.

In this interview Sordo speaks about his preparations for the season ahead, and his impressions
of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Dani, together with your team-mate, Kris Meeke, you are continuing MINI’s tradition
in rallying. Your comments?

“It’s great, particularly to do so with a team as experienced as the MINI WRC Team.
Mini proved in the 1960s that it could thrill the fans by winning important rallies. My first
impression of the new team is that everybody is hard at work trying to be just as successful.”

What will be this season’s biggest challenges for MINI?

“In our first season in the WRC we aim to collect as much experience as possible to be in
a position to attack in the second year. To not contest all rallies feels a bit strange for me at
present, but this is our first season in the WRC. We plan to learn as much as possible in 2011 in
order to move the car to the sharp end as soon as possible.”

What are your preparations for the season?

“First we are working on the car. We need to fine tune all technical aspects of the car for
the different events. I already have a very good impression of the car. Now we need to
concentrate on those vital but minor items that make a difference on rallies. I do a lot of sport to
stay fit. But the most important thing for me is to gain a good feeling for the car.”

How would you describe the MINI John Cooper Works WRC?

“The car is already highly developed. For example, we have a lot of space in the cockpit, a
lot more than I had previously. Here the team has put in a lot of good work. I believe there is no
comparison between this car and the Classic Mini Cooper S which won the Monte Carlo Rally in
the 1960s.”

The MINI WRC Team will not be contesting all rallies in 2011. Will this season be
quieter for you?

“No, we are taking this season very seriously in preparation for a full programme next year.
This year we will compare ourselves directly to the competition, so 2011 is a learning season for
the entire team to collect experience in order to be best prepared for 2012.”