The BMW Group is expected to terminate its contract with Prodrive tomorrow, ending the Banbury firm's involvement in the Mini World Rally Team - and casting doubt over the future of the programme.
AUTOSPORT's sources have confirmed the decision to end the Anglo-German alliance.
AUTOSPORT has been unable to get confirmation from BMW in Munich, but sources within the firm have confirmed the end is imminent for what has been a short and unhappy partnership.
"There was a chance this might have happened last year," said the source, "but in the end it was decided to wait until after Monte Carlo. The decision has now been taken at board level and will be communicated in due course."
There is speculation that BMW is ready to hand the project over to an Italian preparation firm or quit the whole programme altogether.
Drivers Dani Sordo and Meeke were unavailable for comment when contacted by AUTOSPORT.
Now we know BMW was the problem in the
partnership
I thought they were doing a good job with it and progressing well.
