MINI United Wrap-up

Sections: Events | MINI United Nov 3rd, 2005 22 Comments

And the press releases just don’t stop about MINI United. This one is from the fine folks at MINI UK:

The first international MINI United festival took place this weekend in Italy and 6000 MINI fans attended from more than 40 countries.Most people made the journey in their own car meaning nearly 2000 new MINIs and classic Minis crowded the Santa Monica racetrack in Misano.

Over 250 MINI owners travelled the 1000-mile journey from the UK joining owners from Thailand, Japan, Australia as well as their European counterparts. The award for the longest drive went to Dimitri Kotov from Moscow who drove 2200 miles to be at MINI United.

The three days of entertainment started on Friday 28 October, and included stunt shows, karting, helicopter rides, blading, live music and dance acts that kept the party going until the early hours of Sunday morning. Yet, the main focus was on the track. Whether owners took to the circuit in their own MINIs, experienced a lap with a professional racing driver or watched the MINI Challenge races.

The fastest drivers from the national MINI Challenge Series’ went head-to-head in four different disciplines to find the inaugural world champion. Drivers from ten countries including the UK, USA, Germany, Finland and Bahrain competed in a challenging few days of karting, slalom, off-road trials and MINI racing to achieve the highest points overall.

The first MINI Challenge world champion title went to Maxime Martin from Belgium. Swedish and Austrian drivers finished second and third place, while the winner of the Scottish MINI Challenge managed to get in the top ten taking seventh place out of 20 competitors. The top English competitor came twelfth.

Another highlight of the weekend was a special sneak preview of the new MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit and the chance to speak to the designers about the lighter, more powerful MINI. Only 2000 will be built and will go on sale next July.

The final race of the weekend saw ex-Formula One drivers, Touring Car champions and Monte Carlo winners line up on the grid in identical 210bhp MINI Cooper S’ with the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit. Despite the casual remarks before the race, the inherent competitive spirit of racing drivers filled the atmosphere and FIA World Touring Car Champion Alessandro Zanardi took a close finish, happy to win in his home country.

(MINI UK)

For those who just can’t get enough, here’s the more detailed version of press release from MINI USA:

Glorious autumn sunshine lit up the MINI United event 2005 – the first official annual meeting of MINI fans from around the world – at the Misano racing circuit near Rimini. Some 6,000 visitors from more than 40 countries were there to lap up the three days of lifestyle and motorsport-inspired ambience and events.

Most of the MINI aficionados arrived in the Adriatic in their own cars, with over 1,900 MINI models – both historical and of more recent vintage – making the journey. A group of 80 British MINI enthusiasts, for example, incorporated MINI United into their annual pilgrimage to Italy following in the tyre tracks of the hit film “The Italian Job”. Dimitri Kotov took the honours for the longest distance travelled, spreading the 3,660-kilometre journey from his home in Moscow to Italy over five days. Ho Hang On, meanwhile, came all the way from Hong Kong to attend the event – albeit by plane. The proud owner of the 700,000th new-generation MINI was presented with a model car in a symbolic hand-over ceremony. The jury gave the “Best of Show” award to a MINI fitted with gullwing-style doors and powered by a 177-kW (240-bhp) engine.

The visitors to Misano enjoyed three days of fun and entertainment inspired by the MINI brand. On the agenda were everything from design workshops to MINI Collection fashion shows, with the laid-back atmosphere and parties – featuring live music from renowned international artists including British DJ Sonique – contributing to the success of the event. On display for the fans were a variety of famous MINI models – including the special-edition Bisazza and Missoni-inspired versions, a MINI in XXL stretch limousine trim and the cars of David Bowie and Michael Caine – and an exclusive world premiere of the MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Tuning Kit. This particularly lightweight version of the MINI Cooper S brings the MINI Challenge ambience from the racetrack to the road.

Among the numerous activities on and off the track were “taxi rides” alongside professional drivers in a MINI Cooper S, driver safety training, helicopter tours, karting for all-comers and the chance to complete a few laps in your own MINI on the “Circuito Santamonica”. Belgian Maxime Martin is the first MINI Challenge world champion.

The sporting highlight of the event was the MINI Challenge World Final, in which the 20 fastest drivers in the various MINI Clubsport series battled it out for the official world championship title. The drivers went head-to-head in four different disciplines – races and a slalom test in the MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works Tuning Kit, a test of skill over a quad driving course and karting competition back on the track. Belgium’s Maxime Martin took the title ahead of Fredrik Lestrup (Sweden) and Johannes Stuck (Austria).

MINI United boiled to a spectacular climax in the shape of the Special Guest Race, in which 17 celebrity MINI enthusiasts in technically identical MINI Cooper S cars went head to head. Among the stars lining up on the grid were ex-Formula One drivers Christian Danner (Germany), Paolo Barilla (Italy) and Marc Surer (Switzerland), former touring car world champion Roberto Ravaglia (Italy), Finnish “Rally Professor” Rauno Aaltonen (winner of the 1967 Rallye Monte Carlo in a Mini), Italian singer Max Gazz’ and twice ChampCar champion Alessandro Zanardi. The Italian, one of the leading drivers in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, came out on top after a thrilling battle with German MINI Challenge 2004 champion Alexander Burgstaller. “Una vittoria speziale,” beamed Zanardi. “This victory is something very special for me.”

(MINI USA)

Written By: MF Staff

RB

I gotta go to the next event!
http://bravo5.org/blog blalor

Another highlight of the weekend was a special sneak preview of the new MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit and the chance to speak to the designers about the lighter, more powerful MINI.

Man, I wonder what those conversations were like. ;-)
Adam

Is there video of the Challenge race floating around anywhere? It’d be cool to see/hear those Challenge cars roar by.
http://www.gbmini.net Ian C.

It must have been impressive to see that race – all MINIs identical in color too :)
http://www.newministuff.com mikeythemini

Those Classics in the first pic were there as part of the Italian Job charity run from the UK – this does attract USA entries :) http://www.italianjob.com
Larry

Glad to hear Alex Zanardi taking the win! It’s good to see him successful in racing again after his terrible crash in 2001. Way to go Alex!
http://www.sunshineminis.org James

OK MINI USA, it’s your turn!
JP

Hey Gabe you wouldn’t happen to have the first and third pics in Hi-Res format for a wallpaper, would you?
RB

MINI United in the USA………Yeah!

It would be great to see all the countries in the America’s like Canada, Mexico, Virginia, Carolina, California, Arkansas, Alabama, etceteras, competing against each other! Columbia, they could have a Pepper White car. The USA companies that sponsored teams could go to Brazil and get some fine drivers for the USA MINI team or just leave it to Penske……….oops……….NAW….that would never happen!

Oh yeah instead of road course events at Watkins Glen or any of our fine road courses we could just go around Talladega a million times and see who lasts.

Then there’s the food.

It would be fun though.

Just havin’ sum fun, Sorry if it offended anyone.
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com David Bunting

From talking with one of the people at MINI that was closely tied to MINI United, I can tell you that it was (as of March at least) MINI’s intent that MINI United would be moved around to various markets as the years went on. Very possibly there could be a MINI United in North America at some point.
O(=^=)O Capn

okay maybe the other thread would be the best place to put this, but picture three would be my choice for a GP MINI.
O(=^=)O Capn

So, What do they do with all of those marvelously equipped MINI’s that they race against afterwards? I think an auction for charity would be cool! That way at least we would be able to get them, and it would support a good cause.
Kyle

Any chance of getting the shot of all the MINIs racing as a hi-res wallpaper shot, Gabe? :)
http://www.hubertus.net/mymini/ Philip

All those CHALLENGE MINIs are shipped to New Zealand for their 2006 CHALLENGE season.
RB

I just don’t get it……we, USA, buy more of these than most anyone but their taking the cars to New Zealand, no offense to NZ, now that PMO! What a LOAD.
http://www.minipeople.ru Dimitri

Hey everyone,

last night at 0230 am the Russian Crew came back home. There is a small mistake in the press release, more than one person drove down to Italy from Moscow, Russia. Actually it was 5 people in 3 cars. The total journey added up to 6500 km and lasted 12 days including the event.

I can tell you one thing – MiniUnited 2005 was FANTASTIC. Not sure why more people from the states didn’t come, but there was a couple from Washington DC leaving in our hotel (James and Marina), they were great fun.

I had a camcorder with me during the whole event and have the races filmed. The feeling on the spectators stand near the start line before the green light came on was incompareable to anything ever!!!! It was the best!

We traveled back with one of chief guys from Mini, Germany and he said that there were over 6000 mini fans there and nearly 4000 cars. MINI never expected to have so many people at the event.

At the Mini Challenge final there was a guy from the states Brad Davis, so I presume you have the series over the Atlantic.

I think that the reason for the first MU to take place in europe is that it would ensure a more international crowd. If the next event will be held in North America, it would attract mainly US and Canadian owners, as it is far too far away. Unfortunately the distance do mater, so I think they will have to hold 2 sepparate events for 2 markets.

MINI officials are going to gather all the feedback and adjust the strategy accordingly. At the moment there are talks of holding the next event in 2 to 5 years. There is no way the event can become anual, I don’t even think it can be held every 2 years. In order to maintain the attractiveness, they should embrace the olympic strategy and the next one should be MU 2009 somewhere in Germany or UK.
http://www.minipeople.ru Dimitri

BTW, we took more than 1000 pictures at the event and they will be available soon on our website. We’ll keep you posted.
Greg W

Hey RB and Capn, Yes, the cars are coming to New Zealand for a MINI Challenge racing series – I refered to this in a previous thread. Why NZ? Because we were offered the cars to set up a series by the factory and made a commitment. I guess other markets including the USA were not interested so you will have to ask your MINI USA people for their reason. You guys have a sort of a series already, but not like the MINI Challenge format and rules of GB and Germany which is what the factory seem to want. I spoke with NZ driver Mike Eady and he said that the racing was some of the toughest he has encountered in his career (24 hours Nurburgring, Europe, Oceania, Porsche Cup). Apparently the European drivers had all been Go-kart champions or sons of saloon car champions, were profesional drivers and even had their managers there! Of the 20 cars, there are still 10 without drivers signed, so if you are keen to come down and race contact the MINI NZ Manager; Peter.Jarratt@bmw.co.nz
rB

Greg W……..

Thanks for the explanation.

Please Note that this was in no way a knock against anyone in NZ. Wether it was a MINIUSA thing or whatever it’s gets old seeing, for whatever reason, the USA not being represented in F1, WRC or having our USA companies and or teams not supporting American drivers, no knock against any foreign drivers either as it’s not there fault the way things are going.

When I think of all the tracks in Europe that have been there so many years but in California we have lost so many tracks…OCIR, Riverside, Ascot, Gilmore Field D track, the old Irwindale Drag Strip, Ontario International and others it makes me feel sad. Too many people here.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

When I think of all the tracks in Europe that have been there so many years but in California we have lost so many tracks…OCIR, Riverside, Ascot, Gilmore Field D track, the old Irwindale Drag Strip, Ontario International and others it makes me feel sad. Too many people here.

I’ll second that! One my first memories of watching autoracing on TV was seeing NASCAR at Riverside in the early 80′s.
rB

I saw some amazing racing in person there. Jim Hall, Bob Edmison’s Corvette going 176 in 1960′s, then the CanAm cars in the 200 mph range, the “esses”‘s. It’s sad.
Greg W

Thanks RB and I too agree that USA is under represented in world motorsport. Apart from Andretti and Gurney you guys should have more international drivers, but you have done remarkably well at LeMans 24 hour (Ford GT). NZ has only 4 million people but we have had some great drivers – Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Chris Amon, and more recently in your Indy series Scott Dixon. And Rod and Steve Millen based in California. Check another NZ’er in upcoming film – The World’s fastest Indian.

← The JCW GP Kit – Your Way MotoringFile Spotlight: Marvin Price →

Sort by MINI model

Recent BimmerFile Stories

MINI Model Cheat Sheet

1st Gen MINI
R50: One & MC Hatch
R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt.
R53: MCS Hatch
2nd Gen MINI
R55: Clubman
R56: Hatch
R57: Convertible
R58: Coupe
R59: Roadster
R60: MINI Crossover
R61: MINI Crossover Coupe
3rd Gen MINI
F55: Clubman
F56: Hatch
F57: Convertible
F60: MINI Crossover
F62: Traveller

Advertise with MotoringFile

If you or your company are interested in advertising on the most influential MINI website in the world, please visit our Advertising section. If you have further questions about becoming a sponsor or would like to see our rate sheet please feel free to contact us directly.