MINI has just unveiled the full roster for its 2025 Nürburgring 24?hour assault—and eyes will be locked on one big change: Charlie Cooper won’t be behind the wheel. Instead, Bulldog Racing and MINI John Cooper Works are bringing in Canadian BMW works driver Samantha Tan for her debut in the Green Hell.

Samantha Tan Joins Bulldog Racing

At 27, Samantha Tan arrives with a résumé that leaps off the page: GT World Challenge wins in America and Europe, a 24H Series champion, plus strong finishes in Mugello, Spa and just last weekend at LeMans. Officially named part of the MINI John Cooper Works line-up today, this marks her first outing with the team on N24 duty.

Why Charlie Cooper Stays on the Sidelines

Cooper’s absence is notable and unfortunate. However a slower than expected recovery from knee surgery is keeping him out of the car this year. Technically replacing Charlie will be MINI Challenge driver Toby Goodman. With Toby and Samantha onboard, clearly MINI and Bulldog Racing are bringing the heat with this year’s line-up.

  • Samantha Tan (CAN) – A BMW works-backed endurance ace, stepping up from GT World Challenge and 24H Series to tackle the Nürburgring intensity.
  • Markus Fischer (AUT) – A Nürburgring specialist and ’24’s SP4T fastest-lap hero, staying on to chase back?to?back class wins.
  • Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) – A track rat veteran, whose countless test miles and N24 starts bring vital circuit wisdom.
  • Toby Goodman (GBR) – Still only 23, but already a repeat podium threat after racing his way up from MINI Challenge Trophy.

How MINI has Progressed at the ‘Ring

Since it began its (almost) factory effort, MINI has been steadily progressing up the rankings:

  • 2022 – Running one of the JCWs with Bulldog, MINI made waves but retired in SP4T after on-track drama .
  • 2023–2024 – MINI doubled down, clinching class victory in 2024 thanks to ‘Ring ace Markus Fischer (now also retained in ’25’s line-up)  .
  • 2024 – The headline wasn’t just the win; it was the team cohesion, long stints, and race craft that made MINI more than a favorite—it made it a serious contender.

The Bigger Picture: MINI’s N24 Strategy

From a crash-and-burn SP4T debut in 2022 to an SP4T win in 2024, MINI’s rise through the ranks has been rapid and dramatic. The addition of a polished works driver in Tan signals MINI’s new approach: calibrating fun with factory-level discipline.

As we recently highlighted, MINI is explicitly targeting “back?to?back Nürburgring 24?hours victories”. Bringing in Samantha Tan, a grounded talent with a Sideline of global endurance cred, underscores that aspiration.

How to Watch the Nürburgring 24 Hours

Good news: in most of the world, you’ve got options. The ADAC Ravenol 24h official YouTube channel will stream free qualifying rounds and the race worldwide except for geo?blocked territories (including the U.S., Canada, Hungary and France). In Europe, you can typically catch it via Eurosport, Discovery+, Max or regional motorsport channels. In the U.S. and Canada, SPEED?SPORT?1 (available free via Amazon Freevee) usually carries flag-to-flag coverage