Successful Cooperation with MINI

December 2011 Fuel cells from Continental Behälterbau enabled BMW to garner a first prize in rally sport.

In the past, they already stood the test under the most grueling conditions in rally sport. Approved by the FIA, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the safety fuel cells from Continental Behälterbau have now also won over the motorsport experts at UK-based Prodrive. The company equipped the new BMW MINI WRC model vehicle for customer sports activities with a special tank Continental manufactured just for this order.

With a new rally vehicle, BMW/Prodrive is making a comeback in rally sports. Their goal is to win the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2012. “Clearance and installation requirements forced us to go for a tank that is ultra flexible yet extremely sturdy as well,” explains Rainer Sokoll, head of marketing & sales at Continental Behälterbau. “We were able to convince the experts at Prodrive that only top quality components go into the making of our fuel cells, which match Prodrive’s requirements to a tee. What is more, the cell is much lighter than the standard motorsport solution and exceptionally effective.”

BMW MINI has already made a world-class showing at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, where the team finished in third place. Recognized by the FIA, this rally championship is a spectacular highlight in the motorsport world. All of the top drivers in this sector faced up at the starting line and put in an impressive fight over the approx. 1220-kilometre-long circuit through the Moselle vineyards and Baumholder. “Having finished this well, we are certain that our fuel cell measures up to the tough driving conditions in rally sports. At the same time it demonstrates the high performance level of our new concept with the pump module from Continental Automotive Systems,” underscores Rainer Sokoll. “The complete Conti package has successfully made it into motorsports."