MINI Confirms Future of the MINI Challenge

Sections: Motorsports Apr 24th, 2006 5 Comments

MINI’s commitment to the MINI Challenge looks like it will remain strong over for the foreseeable future. This news comes from recent comments made by the head of MINI of Germany and reported on Paddocktalk.com. Here’s an excerpt:

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚ÂThe MINI CHALLENGE series has been an unprecedented success for us. The demand within the markets with the dealers and equally importantly the fans has been phenomenal. It meets so many of our marketing and business objectives and itÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s a proven mechanic for communicating with our core target audience.

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œWe will be running the same specification cars in 2007 as this year and as with the past two years, will continue to focus on predominantly German based races but I would not rule out the possibility of taking the series throughout Europe in the future.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â

You can read the entire article here:

[ MINI Confirms Future for the MINI CHALLENGE Series ] Paddocktalk.com

Note: The series referred to above is not the MINI Challenge held in the UK but the one that is run mainly in Germany and beefore several F1 races. It’s also the same series that raced at Misano last year and MINI United.

Thanks Stephen for the heads up.

Written By: Gabe

http://www.mc2magazine.com Gary Anderson

With one practice race (at Laguna Seca) and one “real” race at Las Vegas now completed, what does everyone think of the U.S. version of the MINI Challenge that Phil Wicks has started with sponsorship of MINI USA? Does it have the potential to become the success that the English and European Mini Challenges have become? Gary
James

Gary, you are forgetting the second race of the series held in Sebring. There were only 4 MINIs in that race.

Here’s the problem with the US series: MINI USA (or JCW) isn’t building pre-specced MINIs to race, it’s up to individual companies/owners to build their own cars. Also, The US is so much larger than Germany and the UK, it’s going to be too difficult and expensive for many teams to try to make every race of a season. Perhaps there should be a West Coast series and an East Coast series with a final championship somewhere like St. Louis.
katmeho

I agree, 2 series in the US to keep travel costs down, then a run off for the top teams at a national level.
Matt

Yes, that would be ideal. An East Coast and West Coast Series, with final in the middle or something.

You can count me in as a participant if this happens.
Doug

Weak sauce attendance/participation due to a lack of a factory backed spec.

The success of the European series is an ideal model for MINIUSA to pay close attention to.

Phil is doing tremendous work and his efforts are not to be discounted. But the US has no “teams” as in the UK and beyond. Sponsors see the MINI Series there as ideal PR and a fun way to be involved in a heritage sport.

Example: We have NASCAR Even erection assistance medicines jump on that bandwagon.

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