We have a ton of news for you on what promises to be the biggest New MINI event ever, MINI United. First, here’s the official release from MINI PR:
Get set for three days of thrills – courtesy of MINI United.
This adrenaline-fuelled spectacle will be taking place on and around the Misano racetrack in Italy from 28-30 October 2005. Here you’ll have the chance to camp out with an international crowd of like- minded MINI aficionados for non-stop thrills, on and off the racetrack.
If camping is not your thing, there is always the chance to forgo the tent for a room in one of the many hotels in Misano, itself a summertime holiday hotspot right on the Adriatic Sea.
One of the many highlights will, of course, see the MINI being put through its paces: on the hair-raising hairpins and speed- soaked straights of the Misano race circuit, the best MINI Clubsport drivers from all four corners of the globe will be coming together to battle out the MINI Challenge world final.
Racing action is just one highlight in a packed programme. With parties, live music and plenty of opportunities to get to know MINI fans from around the world, activities abound for all types of interest.
You can visit the official MINI United Page here. [ MINI.com ]
Now for even more info (some not found anywhere else) here’s Dave Bunting:
MINI International will be hosting MINI UNITED (a three day world MINI gathering) in Misano Italy at the end of October.
The three day MINI festival is anticipated to draw over 2000 MINIs from Europe. MINI International is is seeking out participation from all of the countries where MINI is sold.
Friends – Festival – Challenge
There will be a large variety of events taking place: the MINI Challenge World Final, drives (in the local area and on the Misano racetrack), car show, music and entertainment, a MINI International display, a John Cooper Works display, a tuner area, discussions with MINI designers, and an opportunity for MINI driver training at the Misano track.
MINI Challenge World Final
The highlight of the weekend is the MINI Challenge World Final. MINI has been conducting MINI Challenge races in several nations. The top placing participants from the national Challenge races will face off in this event.
MINI International wants North American participation in the World Final. Since North America does not have a Challenge series, MINI and MINIUSA will be selecting the drivers (exact number is TBD, but expect it to be around two drivers) that have been competing their MINIs from a sanctioned race series (i.e. Grand Am Cup, NASA, SCCA). There will be approximately 2-3 drivers per country from the larger countries and 1-2 drivers per country from the smaller countries. A total of 20-25 drivers will compete in MINI race cars supplied by MINI International that have the 210 hp JCW kit installed in addition to having been race prep’d by BMW Motorsports.
Hosting the MINI UNITED event at a racetrack will enable MINI enthusiasts watch some top level MINI racing, and for the lucky 25 drivers, a chance to compete against the best from around the world.
Getting to MINI UNITED: North America
MINI International will have more details as we get closer to the event. For now, I can relate that MINI International is very interested in having people from Mexico, Canada, and the United States at MINI UNITED. For those of us in North America, the most likely scenario would be to work this event in to a larger European vacation.
To support people traveling to the event that aren’t from the European continent, MINI International is investigating several options for helping North Americans get access to MINIs for the event. The following ideas are being considered (this is not *firm* or *official* event information yet):
- (under consideration) MINI demos from the Italian MINI (and potentially other European Countries) dealers may be available to be rented for not just the threed day weekend, but potentially UP TO TWO WEEKS around the event to allow International participants to still Motor in a MINI at MINI United and (possibly) on their trip to Europe. So you may be able to say, pick a MINI up in France or Italy and drive it for the week leading up to the event, then take it to MINI UNITED and have it to tour around following the event. Again, I want to emphasize this is under consideration and being investigated, but is not firm.
- MINI Rental Cars may be available from various companies for event participants.
- Pool of “arranged lifts” to help participants without MINIs get a ride with someone who has an extra seat available in their MINI.
- In addition, MINI International is investigating ways to help with making lodging reservations. They will be working with a professional travel agency to help international owners make hotel reservations in the area (two star to five star). There will also be camping available at the race track, for those that want more of a festival experience.
You can read more of Dave’s report here. [ Northamericanmotoring.com ]
<p>I’m thinking of driving to the event and figure it will take about 5-7 days (depending on the currents). Anyone want to form a caravan?</p>
<p>Theo</p>
<p>RRRRRRRRR…Shiver me timbers Matey hoist the mizzen mast!</p>
<p>if i can rent a MINI while in Europe, I may just do this…</p>
<p>if i can’t, then i’d rather spend my time driving my MINI than watching others drive their MINIs</p>
<p>I wonder who will be in contention to be the North American driver selections? Do autocrossers need not to apply?</p>
<p>I love the photo with this article. At first I thought that poor MCS was having bigtime camber issues up front, but then I realized that it’s on the verge of airbourne. It looks like it’s only got one wheel 100% on the ground. I can almost see the gigantic grin on the driver’s face. I also really like that color – tasteful alternative red.</p>
<p>Actually that’s just plain old chili red that happens to be behind some shadows on the Nurburgring. Also on the larger picture you can actually see that all four tires are off the ground completely :)</p>
<p>WOW! – This sounds like quite the weekend… Sun, Italian foos, wine and MINIs!!</p>
<p>Wish I (and all americans) had the vacation time that our european counterparts enjoy. D’ya think MINI International could help arrange that too?</p>
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<p>TSizemore3: Driver selection will come from the pool of MINI owners that are nationally competitive in events put on by one of the following sanctioning bodies: Grand Am Cup, NASA, SCCA. Based on that, for autocross I would certainly think that a trip to Topeka would be necessary.</p>
<p>I have always loved Italian Foos…one of my favs…next to whining in my MINI.</p>
<p>Isn’t that cute? </p>
<p>No Wheel to Wheel Challenge series in USA… the reason for that is because MINIUSA will not back it as MINI does in Europe.</p>
<p>The UK edition Works Challenge is supplying cars as far as I understand the read above.</p>
<p>If MINIUSA got on the ball, maybe we too could enjoy a series such as they do overseas.</p>
<p>Until then, there is always our Timed Challenge in MAY. 8th and 21st.</p>
<p>And it’s less expensive than a trip to italy.</p>
<p>Here in Germany quite a few rental companies have MINIs in their car pool: I saw MINIs with stickers from Avis, Enterprise and Hertz.</p>
<p>There will be a whole lof of MINI enthusiasts from Germany going down to Italy.</p>
<p>I’m planning to go too.</p>
<p>I can offer to try and organize something if anyone is interested to fly to Frankfurt and then motor down to Italy.</p>
<p>How about this:
Day 1: Frankfurt to Lago di Como (near Milan) – 430 miles.
Day 2:
A day of sightseeing in Milan and the last 210 miles to Misano.</p>
<p>On the way back we could do a few alpine passes and a night in Switzerland.</p>
<p>Philip</p>
<p>I’d rather prefer to see one of the Mini Challenge races as a teaser to some Formula 1 event. </p>
<p>There’s two Mini Challenge races that start as teasers</p>
<p>1.) Hockenheim GP 22-24.07.2005
2.) Spa/Belgium GP 09-11.09.2005</p>
<p>Would also be nicer to include in a vacaion since the time is better suited for warm weather guarantee. </p>
<p>If you want to get info
==> <a href="http://www.mini.de/challenge/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini.de/challenge/</a></p>
<p>Question: Where can I get the Dunlop and JCW stickers that are on the front bumper and spoiler?</p>
<p>Well, im 12 yrs old and am trying to persuade my dad to take me there. we have a standard electric blue mini S with the black mirror caps and roof. i just LOVE it and it would be a dream to go, i would like to go nearly as much as i would like to go back to LeMans 24. who knows. maybe ill push him so hard hell agree. but for now, whoevers going gd luck and enjoy yourselves. can you please try to remember to take photos and send them to my email address please. Bye !!!!</p>
<p>Ollie J Gray</p>