BANBURY’S Mini World Rally Championship team are hoping for another top placing as they head for Strasbourg and their fourth event of the year, Rally France-Alsace this weekend.

The team are keen to capitalise on their third place in Germany for Spaniard Dani Sordo and the tarmac performance shown by the Mini John Cooper Works WRC.

While the rest of the competitors have been in Australia, the No 37 and 52 Minis have been back at the Prodrive headquarters in Banbury.

Since the Rally Germany, both drivers have been getting time behind the wheel with Kris Meeke attending the Rallyday at Castle Combe, and Dani Sordo shaking the car down at Prodrive’s test track in Warwickshire.

Team principal David Richards said: “Dani and Kris have proven that the Mini is very competitive on tarmac.

“As in Germany, we will be going to France to show the performance of the car and aiming for both drivers to finish in strong positions.

“Whether we can repeat the podium positions in Trier remains to be seen, but certainly Dani likes the event.

“Kris is new to the stages, but I am confident he will soon be on the pace, just as he was in Germany.”

Meeke said: “I didn’t start this rally in 2010, which practically makes this a completely new rally for me.

“The rally is similar to its German counterpart.

“It is technically very demanding and you cannot afford to lose concentration for a second.”