If there are two things we can’t get enough of, it’s the Nurburgring and the JCW GP. Thanks to a tip from Florian, we have both in spades. Youtube (and we assume GP owner) frigo1966 has the best collection of GP vs ‘Ring footage we’ve ever seen. They’re all well worth a click.
The first video here is our favorite. Have you ever wanted to see a GP passing multiple Porsche GT3s on the ‘Ring? Look no further (courtesy of frigo1966). Who said the MINI wasn’t a serious track car?
MINI GP vs E46 M3
Two GPs on the ‘Ring
GP vs E46 M3 CSL
As a bonus, youtube user toastet (check out his channel here) has a rival collection of GP vs ‘Ring footage that also shouldn’t be missed. Here are a few samples.
<p>Right, that’s quite enoungh of that! I’ve got work to do and this is all too distracting. A nice injection of adrenaline for the afternoon, thank you!</p>
<p>Great footage indeed! He knows the ‘Ring and knows how to drive the GP. Does anyone know how</p>
<p>@lavadera — Given equal drivers, a 911 GT3 of any variety will hand the GP its ass on a platter in braking, cornering, and acceleration. As a GP owner myself, I know it’s one of best FWD driving cars on the planet, but there is no way it can legitimately compete with 385+ hp (in the 996 GT3, moving up to 400+ in the 997 variants) RWD car that revs to 8000+rpm, has massive brakes, and contact patches that double the GP’s.</p>
<p>The GP is one of the greats, truly… good to see them being enjoyed as they were meant to be! “Frigo1966” is a helluva focused driver. The “toastet” vids are new to me so thank you for sharing…</p>
<p>I daresay the GP is probably easier to drive at its limit than the GT3. When you screw up with a powerful, rear engined and rear wheel drive car, it bites hard.</p>
<p>@Micah – that was my point exactly. I didn’t say better brakes – I said better braking. The GP owner was clearly out-driving those other cars despite their chances to distance him on the straighter sections.</p>
<p>Yeah, it looked like the Porsche drivers were pretty inexperienced. One of the Yellow ones seemed scared even judging by teh way he was on the brakes. He was blocking like crazy and tensing up when the MINI clearly could and should have taken him.</p>
<p>@ CraigE, lavardera, & goat — Thanks for the points of clarification. Agreed, although I could do without the brake fade I experience on my GP. In addition to upgraded brake specs, my guess would be that frigo1966 is probably running a brake ducting system as well, something I have yet to try.</p>
<p>As we have probably all experienced driving our MINIs at the track while passing/out-cornering much more powerful, “capable” cars, the driver is the most important part of the equation!</p>
<p>Invigorating!</p>
<p>On the bucket list.</p>
<p>GP – better braking, and more guts in the turns, made up for the porshe and BMW walking away from it on the stretches</p>
<p>I’ve been a fan of frigo1966 for a while. Great stuff. I hear he maintains an annual pass. Envious for sure!</p>
<p>Right, that’s quite enoungh of that! I’ve got work to do and this is all too distracting. A nice injection of adrenaline for the afternoon, thank you!</p>
<p>Fantastic stuff.
Gigantic tenders there a few times.
Not much SC whine, but the exhaust sounds choice.</p>
<p>Great footage indeed! He knows the ‘Ring and knows how to drive the GP. Does anyone know how</p>
<p>@lavadera — Given equal drivers, a 911 GT3 of any variety will hand the GP its ass on a platter in braking, cornering, and acceleration. As a GP owner myself, I know it’s one of best FWD driving cars on the planet, but there is no way it can legitimately compete with 385+ hp (in the 996 GT3, moving up to 400+ in the 997 variants) RWD car that revs to 8000+rpm, has massive brakes, and contact patches that double the GP’s.</p>
<p>The GP is one of the greats, truly… good to see them being enjoyed as they were meant to be! “Frigo1966” is a helluva focused driver. The “toastet” vids are new to me so thank you for sharing…</p>
<p>Question above was cut off — was supposed to read: does anyone know how Frigo1966 sets up his GP?</p>
p>@Micah</p
<p>I daresay the GP is probably easier to drive at its limit than the GT3. When you screw up with a powerful, rear engined and rear wheel drive car, it bites hard.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t want to be one of the guys riding a motorcycle with that much action going on…</p>
<p>@Micah – that was my point exactly. I didn’t say better brakes – I said better braking. The GP owner was clearly out-driving those other cars despite their chances to distance him on the straighter sections.</p>
<p>@ Micah – I remember reading that frigo1966’s GP is running quality coilovers and upgraded brakes but otherwise stock.</p>
<p>That first video is scary. There were way too many opportunities for exchanges of paint (or worse) in those 2 minutes.</p>
<p>Yeah, it looked like the Porsche drivers were pretty inexperienced. One of the Yellow ones seemed scared even judging by teh way he was on the brakes. He was blocking like crazy and tensing up when the MINI clearly could and should have taken him.</p>
<p>@ CraigE, lavardera, & goat — Thanks for the points of clarification. Agreed, although I could do without the brake fade I experience on my GP. In addition to upgraded brake specs, my guess would be that frigo1966 is probably running a brake ducting system as well, something I have yet to try.</p>
<p>As we have probably all experienced driving our MINIs at the track while passing/out-cornering much more powerful, “capable” cars, the driver is the most important part of the equation!</p>