The JCW Challenge has now become the “MINI Challenge”. Earlier this year Mike Cooper sold the rights of the racing series in the UK to a company called Total Track Ltd.. As part of the change over, the series made a subtle name change going from “the John Cooper Challenge” to simply “the MINI Challenge”. The 2006 season will feature 16 rounds, eight events, and three separate titles. There are also been a few rumors of the series (or something similar) eventually making it’s way onto US TV via the Speed Channel. Hopefully we’ll have more on that in the near future.
You can check it all out at the new official home of the series minichallenge.co.uk. And for those who like to get straight to the details, you can download the 2006 prospectus here.
Related:
[ The 2006 North American MINI Race Series ] MotoringFile
I hope it does make it to the Speed Channel. I’m just discovering some of the cool programming on that channel.
You should have seen speedvision before it became the NASCAR Network. I hope the Mini Challenge gets to Speedchannel as well. I would watch it.
How about an actual US based Mini Cooper racing series… sorta like spec miatas? I think that would be awesome. Then after I’ve had my mini for a while I can turn it into a race car.
I saw this in Nor Cal a few years back, not sure if it’s still going:
<a href="http://www.bmwccaclubracing.com/Archives/2003Series/Rules/03Mini.htm" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.bmwccaclubracing.com/Archives/2003Series/Rules/03Mini.htm</a>
we’ve been doing something similar for about a year with Redline TrackEvents here in SoCal.
It’s a more, owner friendly competition though. A time attack.
We’ll be haveing a few more in 2006. One in Jan (might be a little late notice) and some more through the season.
It is always a good time.
<blockquote>
How about an actual US based Mini Cooper racing series… sorta like spec miatas? I think that would be awesome. Then after I’ve had my mini for a while I can turn it into a race car.</blockquote>
Go to the Link above and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
So … Can is be safe to say that the “2006 North American MINI Race Series” is NOT the same as this series?
The question is important because of it IS, then MINI will sell the John Cooper Motorsports TC upgrade to 225 in US.
If not, the US doesnt get it so …
Is the US race part of the official MINI series?
How cool is that photo where the Mini’s are so close, on Mini’s side-view mirror is being clipped off.
🙂
If you can’t have a series in USA then you could come race in the NZ series late 2006/2007. The concept is you buy a franchise car, MINI NZ takes care of the transport and repairs, so all you goota do is turn up to drive on race day. The only catch is you will have to fly 12 hours from LA to NZ to compete. I guess some folks in USA would drive 12 hours to do the same if it was in USA. Share the franchise with two or three others and this makes a fly/drive holiday!
Interested? email martin collins at <a href="mailto:martin.collins@bmw.co.nz">martin.collins@bmw.co.nz</a>
<blockquote>How cool is that photo where the Mini’s are so close, on Mini’s side-view mirror is being clipped off. </blockquote>
haha, looks like they’re holding hands.
Here’s a US racing series you might be interested in:
<a href="http://www.minidriving.com/page.asp?PageID=7" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.minidriving.com/page.asp?PageID=7</a>