From JCW PR:
Following the team's debut entry in last year's Nurburgring 24 Hrs race, John Cooper Motorsport is back for more, with a two-car entry for 2004's epic on June 12/13. Demonstrating the team's increased ambition, they have signed the hugely experienced Touring Car and Endurance racing ace, Roberto Ravaglia to spearhead the effort.
The 47-year old Italian, now principal of the Ravaglia Motorsport ETCC team, has previously won the Spa-Francorchamps 24 hrs race, finished third at Le Mans and is a former World, European, German and Italian Touring Car Champion.
Ravaglia heads up a team of six drivers, under the charge of two team managers, with Mike Cooper acting as overall team principal.
It is not just the talent that has undergone an overhaul since last year; the MINI Cooper S Works has been considerably enhanced too, with the 200bhp engine being stepped up to a far more powerful fire-breathing unit. The engine has so far stood up well to some intense testing carried out by Coopers.
As well as the main event at 3pm on Saturday, June 12, MINI will be playing a major role in the race build-up with a packed grid of red Cooper Clubsport S's entertaining the grandstands in Round 2 of the new MINI Challenge – a joint venture between John Cooper Motorsport and MINI Germany – at midday.
Mike Cooper is thrilled with the resurgence of the John Cooper name in the motor sport arena: 'The success of the John Cooper Challenge has really fired our ambition to put the Cooper name back where it belongs in motor sport, both domestically and internationally.'
Car #1:
Team Manager: Mark Brown
Drivers: Roberto Ravaglia (I), Paul Harvey (GB), Karl-Heinz Kalbfell (D)Car #2:
Team Manager: Peter Riedl
Drivers: Benno Rottenfusser (D), Gunter Weber (D), Thomas Storz (D)
Here's a recap of last years event: JCW Competes it's first 24hr Race.
<p>Who will be televising the race this year ? ? Anyone know? ? ? </p>
<p><a href="http://www.MINIDryvr.Textamerica.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.MINIDryvr.Textamerica.com</a></p>
<p>(Just updated with pics from this months MINIs OF ORLANDO meeting)</p>
<p>Good luck to them.</p>
<p>Have helmet and harness. Will travel.</p>
<p>Did anyone see the article in gomini mag about the MINI with the M3 engine that is used for these long races? WOW, that would be a kick in the shorts. That MINI makes this one seem like a 90lb runt…R</p>
<p>I believe that car was actually built in late 2001 but I haven't heard much from it since.</p>