2011 saw a reduced programme for Nobre, contesting just four WRC rounds. The fourth and final of these saw him make his World Rally Car debut behind the wheel of a Mini John Cooper Works WRC on Wales Rally GB. He finished 29th overall. For 2012, Nobre committed to a full WRC programme in the Mini, run by Motorsport Italia and entered in the manufacturers' championship as a WRC Team under the name Palmeirinha Rally. After he finished 20th on the season opener in Monte Carlo, Nobre was brought together with the other Motorsport Italia-run car of Armindo Araujo under the new manufacturer entry of WRC Team Mini Portugal for the remainder of the 2012 season, following a change of direction by Mini.