MINI's return will be a boost for world rallying

The worst-kept secret in rallying has finally been revealed with MINI's announcement that it will be returning to the top level of international rallying, the World Rally Championship, in 2011.

Fans and the FIA alike will be delighted at the news especially as a once-thriving WRC has in recent years become a two-horse race between Ford and Citroen, with the latter taking nearly all of the honours thanks to the most successful rally driver in history, Sebastien Loeb.