The big news for this weekend’s race is IMSA’s approval (finally) for the team to use the stock sized JCW brakes. Until now the car has been hamstrung by the standard Cooper S braking system (albeit with different pads). Unfortunately that held the team back tremendously at the notoriously tricky Sebring racetrack.

Official Release: The Brownsburg, IN based MINI JCW Team has loaded their MINI F56 John Cooper Works cars for California to take on this season’s third Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. One of the most famous American race tracks, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will present the MINI JCW Team with another great test of speed and braking capabilities.

Team owner Luis Perocarpi said “We were very disappointed with our brake issues in Sebring. We fought hard all weekend but Mark Pombo’s brakes just didn’t hold out for the entire race and they gave out on his last lap”. After returning to the shop in Brownsburg, Indiana outside Indianapolis, the team has been working very hard to update the cars in time for Laguna Seca. In light of the braking performance issues at Sebring, IMSA has approved the team’s switch from the Cooper S model’s brake caliper back to the original John Cooper Works (JCW) brake calipers for better stopping power.

The MINI JCW Team had a top 10 finish at Laguna Seca last year in only their second outing. Last year Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca gave the team some braking challenges with its difficult corners, everyone on the team is anxious to see how the new IMSA approved OEM MINI JCW brakes will perform at the feet of their drivers.

The Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge race from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca can be live streamed on IMSA.com Saturday April 30th at 4:25pm ET and will be broadcast May 8th on FS1 at 8:00am ET.