Porsche Won’t Race MINI

Sections: Motorsports | Video Jun 10th, 2010 47 Comments

Porsche has said “nein” to MINI’s request to race. Here’s Porsche North America CEO Detlev Von Platen’s answer to MINI’s challenge:

Dear Jim,

Imagine our surprise to discover our former employee, now the head of Mini, has challenged us to a head-to-head race. As you surely know, Porsche has a long history of racing success, with more than 28,000 wins over the last 60 years. In our early days, we pitted ourselves against the giants, so we’ve been in your shoes. But as you also know, Porsche doesn’t race for fame, stunts or publicity. We race to challenge ourselves; we race to push sports car technology; we race to translate every win on the track to our cars on the road. If you need a reminder of our intent, please take a look at this short video:

While your challenge seems like a fun and lighthearted campaign, we’ll stick to racing the way we have over the decades. We welcome you at Sebring, Le Mans, Daytona or any other sanctioned race where there is more at stake than T-shirts and valet parking spaces. We also invite you to any of the thousands of tracks around the world where Porsche owners compete each weekend.

Good luck with your race at Road Atlanta on June 21; we hope you enjoy the day.

Sincerely,
Detlev Von Platen
President and CEO, Porsche Cars North America

So what do you think? Or better yet, what do you think would have happened?

Written By: Gabe

Aaron

Question Asked: Porsche, are you man enough?

Questino Answered: No.

:D
lavardera

I think they handled it well, getting in a spin on their core values. I declare it a win win, but I’d still like to see them show up with a Speedster out of their collection and take on the Mini with a vintage Porsche.
beken

I’d like to see a MINI in the GT2 class at LeMans beat out a Porsche. But I doubt that will ever happen.
Fred

Too dignified, eh? Not a cheeky bone in the Porsche corporate body.
Alexandre

I think their response is very thoughtful and right on spot, but they still sound a too cocky for me; they forgot that MINI also has a racing heritage…
Hoover

Weak. They should have agreed. What happened to fun? We probably could all predict the outcome: Porsche wins. BUT, if Porsche’s margin of victory were too slim for their comfort…well…in this economy, where every sale to Porsche is important, it might not be good PR. “A lot of fun to be had in the MINI for a lot less dinero. Heck I could buy multiple MINIs for the cost of that Porsche.” Still…someone who wants a Porsche is probably going to buy a Porsche. Someone who wants a MINI is probably going to buy a MINI. Very different driving dynamics which appeal to very different buyers. MINI needs to hit the track with the Porsche owners. Pit MINI owners against Porsche owners. It could actually be more persuasive showing consumers racing against each other.
Steve S

What did Mini expect? Porsche already competes, if Mini wants to they need to man up and front a team as they did in the past.
dave

what a bunch of crap. talk about a company that has absolutely no sense of fun or soul, acting like they’re curing cancer. i don’t think i’ll ever remotely want a porsche now, not even a boxster
Alexandre

@dave – Technically, you could still buy a Boxster since it’s not a real Porsche ;-)
Gary (the other one)

Wait…they never consider the potential publicity gains for their brand when they race? Who believes that?

It will be interesting to see how MINI USA uses the Porsche decline in their further milking of this item for promotional purposes. What will Jim’s next tee shirt say?

MINI – “LET’S GO” PORSCHE – “UH…NO”
Janet

I say don’t give up. Keep after them, Jim! Remember the story of Seabiscuit!
MKH

Too funny… Great reply. “Man up MINI, hit the track with the big boys, or be a poser – your choice”.
http://Www.phillyMINI.org Joe Montante

Jim’s next shirts:

“Porsche = No Bollocks” “MINI Bollocks > Porsche Bollocks”
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1557360240 Mark O’Neill

I’m sure they saw that coming.
Hobbe

We have 12 MINIs racing with BMW Sport Club in Sweden, and recently started our own racingseries called MINI Cup while our BMWs compete in BMW Cup.

Porsche Club also exists in Sweden, and they too have an racingseries.

On any track anywhere in world you said.

Posing or racing? A lot of the MINI racedrivers are former Porsche owners. Bring it on Detlev ;)
Greg W

Let’s get a perspective on car vs car in a real racing situation. Here are the lap times of Porsche GT3 Cup races and MINI Challenge (R53 S) races at Taupo Motorport Park, New Zealand in March this year. Porsche Driver – NZ’er Matt Halliday (who came 6th recently at GT3 race at Monaco) and NZ MINI Champion Matt Hamilton. Taupo Race track 3.5 kms. Fastest laps – Porsche 1.29:615, MINI Cooper S R53 1.46:170. It’s a no brainer.

Which model Porsche was going to be used? What model was MINI going to trundle out?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001118351431 Robert Fairchild

So Devlev doesn’t want to race for t-shirts or valet parking. “need higher stakes” he said.

Ok, race for pink slips.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001118351431 Robert Fairchild

“Which model Porsche was going to be used? What model was MINI going to trundle out?”

Is today the first tiem you’ve heard about this? It was supposed to be a R56S vs porsche carerra 911S.

Not GT3 vs R53.
GSP

If not handled perfectly Porsche stood to lose either on the race track or in public opinion. They handled it with class. Nice try MINI. There really was never any chance that Porsche would sucker for it.
JonPD

I actually have to side with Porsche on this. There is no way that I would have done this if I were running it either. If MINI wants to do this they should hook up with any number of Porsche Clubs and go to a track day with them and see how the R56S stands up.

The only way MINI could have gained anything on the Porsche would be to throw on the JCW suspension and brakes and then created a short track with a large number of corners where the much more powerful and capable Porsche could be held off with a little driving skill. Still I seriously hopes nobody is under the delusion a stock S is any level of competition to Porsche.
Alan Smithee

[quote]what a bunch of crap. i donâ€™t think iâ€™ll ever remotely want a porsche now, not even a boxster[/quote] Wow, talk about taking a lighthearted viral marketing campaign too seriously…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=760993825 Larry Simpson

Funny, but not surprising. He basically told Mini to GFYS. Its ok, If I was going to spend that kind of money, I would get a lotus, who wants to pay for overpriced VW anyway.
glangford

I agree JonPD. I side with Porsche as well. I think they had an appropriate measured response.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=702322910 Jessica Napier

What a bummer! Was really looking forward to it. Such a cocky reply too, so sad. Oh well — although it’s obvious the Porsche would win, it’d still be a fun event to be had… :)
Hoover

they forgot that MINI also has a racing heritage

Exactly…MINI could post a similar video with its triumphs.

This isn’t about race cars. This is about the cars that REAL people drive. The customers that help fund their racing efforts. If you aren’t willing to demonstrate just how well you “translate every win on the track to [y]our cars on the road,” what good is all that “racing success.”

I have one word for Detlev Von Platen: CHICKEN!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1070696962 Kevin Stephenson

The response was definitely well thought out but not in the spirit MINI sent their response in. I am disappointed and thought it was a little “cocky”.

I think MINI should find a way to market this like crazy now!!
Minipuma

That response is incredibly snotty and patronizing. I fail to see how anyone could say that Porsche “handled it well.” I am having a hard time imagining a less flattering response (“our former employee”, as if he cleaned the toilets; “t-shirts and valet spaces”… what a jackass).

There was no reason for Porsche to take MINI up on the race, but there was equally no reason to adopt such a tone of smug superiority. Just reinforces what everyone thinks about the driver when a Porsche gets driven gingerly from its garage to the hand wash every two weeks.
that.guy

Bravo Porsche. Very well played. I don’t hear a “cocky” tone in their response at all. The fact is that Porsche is an amazing marque with a competitive history second only to Alfa Romeo*.

To paraphrase Detlev:

“Nice try MINI. We built our brand equity over decades of competition and hard work. We are not going to allow you to leech off it more than you already have by advertising this challenge. You can’t jump the line to earning real competitive cred by staging marketing stunts like this. You have to enter real races and win them. Over and over again.”

*Based on an exhaustive study of my own opinion. But seriously, check out Alfa’s racing history sometime. First victory in 1913 and a dominant force through the early 50s. Deep history.
Aurel

The video he posted is rather ironic considering he decided to pose not race.
Nick Kasoff

Porsche = Wuss

And the MINI guy had better t-shirts too.
Aurel

Well one thing’s for sure. Both parties’ statements reflect the personalities behind the brands.
http://www.AUSmotive.com Liam

“Exactlyâ€¦MINI could post a similar video with its triumphs.”

A bit of Monte Carlo rally success and a Bathurst win here in Australia, and what else? Even if there is more you can’t seriously suggest MINI has achieved as much in motorsport as Porsche.

Like it or not Porsche clearly has it all over MINI in regards to racing pedigree and history.

This does not make MINI a worthless brand though, so why all the insecurity?

MINI and Porsche are both excellent brands that provide buyers with outstanding product. MINI were just being their cheeky selves, you can’t expect Porsche to play ball.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1145665586 DUDE!

Give me a break.. as much as I love my MINI, we would have gotten our ass’ kicked back to Oxford.

I think the MINI campaign is cute, I think the Porsche response quite classy in a mocking sort of way.

Porsches, all of them, have been one of the greatest race cars of all time… Geeesh! MINI won a couple of Monty rallyes guys… How many years ago?
nickminir56

Which sport car manufacturer is afraid of new challengers? – “Porsche, there is no substitute.”
jim

i suggest someone with a 911S just show up and do the race. we don’t need porsche AG to show. just run it with another. when they lose they can come correct it
http://www.lilcoopr.com Sideways Eh!

This will turn up on TOP GEAR…Just you wait!!!

That being said…you people dont SERIOUSLY believe that Porsche would have actually been stupid enough to be called out??? Things are not always what they appear. MINI knows that Porsche would laugh their bags off at the challenge…It’s like if you put the Countryman against a LandRover…Yes MINI has racing heritage, and yes MINI has BALLS…but seriously…they knew it would amount to nothing!!! It is called Marketing by Association…it is ALL WIN for MINI…what does Porsche have to gain???

Anyone remember the “Mighter than the MINI!” TV Commercial rolled out by Suzuki a while back??? We all know that the SX4 has no right associating itself with the likes of MINI…but I am sure it did its job in swaying customers to buy it…

This is what this is about…getting people who would shop a Porsche to consider a MINI…

I still think this will end up on TOP GEAR though…
Hoover

@Liam: Well…duh…

No one is suggesting that MINI (especially the modern MINI not the classic Mini), can hold a candle to Porsche’s racing heritage. But Mini has raced for more than t-shirts and valet parking spaces.

My point is this: very few of us will ever get behind the wheel of a real race car (I don’t count my Skip Barber experience as “real.”) We do have access to these cars. It is always fun to see them pushed to the limits so that we can see what they are really capable of. While some enthusiasts are willing to risk damage to their cars on the track, most of us can’t afford to do so.

I’m guessing that this race will occur in one forum or another. Who cares if Porsche, the company, is involved? Get two equally qualified drivers out there and let’s see what happens.
simbaloco

Aaron, I have to politely say that yours is a childish reaction. If someone is a man here, it is definitely Mr. Von Platen. Adults, specially those educated, can put their mind before their heart, like in Mr. Von Platen’s response. I have lost respect for Mr. McDowell ever since he said that many MINI owners “don’t get their MINI’s idiosyncrasies” (responding to many owners complaining on many MINI issues: cold start, cabin rattles…).
Jesper22

I agree with a lot of the commenters — they’re probably going to come up with a Porsche for the race anyway. Plus, it’s all good fun. I’ve been to both companies facebook pages and it seems like people are up for it. So let’s do it!
that.guy

<

blockquote>Get two equally qualified drivers out there and letâ€™s see what happens.

But we know what will happen. What’s the point? Now make is a JCW and a base Cayman and you might have a race.
Hoover

@that.guy: That would be a better pairing.
BilboBaggins

How many of you have seen this video? Even if you do not understand it you can enjoy it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRx-yszFpcw
http://drivingspirit.com Chris

A marketing masterstroke by Mini, but deftly brushed aside by Porsche. They had everything to lose and nothing to gain. Shame, it would have been a great David versus Goliath battle!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1238400603 Jack Mosher

Depressing. Really depressing. Makes me that much more loyal to MINI… and I may just stop letting Porsches in front of me…
Doug

MINI is better than doing call-out marketing against a legendary brand. Good to forget quickly.
KevinR

As a former MINI owner (R53) and a current Porsche owner (996), I have to side with Porsche on this one. Regardless of the outcome of such a race, MINI would end up looking good and Porsche looking bad.

MINI has plenty of their own merits, I’d prefer to see them focus marketing efforts on those rather than trying to tear down another brand.

I didn’t find fault with the response letter either.
Stef

What a cheap-shot trolling attempt by Mini….. There’s enough room for Mini and Porsche to each have their own success, why must Mini try to live on the back of somebody else?

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