Sections: JCW, Motorsports, Video Jul 12th, 2008 7 Comments Our friends down at AUSmotive.com have got some great footage of the Eastern Creek MINI Challenge from Sydney Australia.
This is why we want the JCW Challenge MINIs to come to the US.
Sections: JCW, MF Feature, Motorsports, R56 Jun 30th, 2008 24 Comments
While at MINI Takes the States in Boston, I had the opportunity to crawl in, on and around the JCW Challenge Race Car with camera in hand. While I was taking photos, I also got some great information.
Mechanically, this is a Factory JCW MINI. The engine, transmission and clutch are from the Factory car you’ll be able to buy later this month. The brakes are the same 4 piston brakes of the JCW car. The wheels are OEM JCW wheels that you will be able to order with your Factory JCW car.
Once this car is built, it’s sent out “body in white” for it to become a race car. The interior is completely stripped except parts of the dash and the emergency brake boot (which is odd) and all of the safety equipment is installed. One feature that I wasn’t familiar with is the air jacks. There is a quick-release air jack in the boot where you plug in an air hose and the entire car raises. A nice feature for a race car to be sure.
Sections: JCW, Motorsports, Video Jun 11th, 2008 12 Comments 2008 MINI Challenge Action! From Rock The Race at Marcel Leipert as best as I can figure out. My German is a bit rusty.
MINI CHALLENGE 2008 - Rock The Race - Marcel Leipe… - MyVideo
Oh, that’s not enough? You say you want to see a MINI Challenge Race car on the ‘Ring too? After the jump.
Sections: Best of the Web, Motorsports May 7th, 2008 14 Comments 
You have to give it to the good lads over at Jalopnik. Besides being huge fans of the Chevy El Camino, they also find some of the coolest stuff you’ll ever see on a car. Case in point, this race-prepped Mini.
Here are things we know about this racing Mini from Japan: mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, gigantic wheels, Honda B18c engine. We’re not sure what compelled this individual to take the original Mini platform and flip it on its head, but we’d like to see this thing take on a Renault R5 powered by an SR2ODE motor for some reason. Clearly, what the Mini has been missing all this time is Integra Type-R power.
I’ve seen this done with a MINI (mid-engine BMW 6), but not in a Classic. Crazy.
[ Japanese Mini Cooper Does Everything Backwards ] Jalopnik.com
Sections: JCW, Motorsports, R56 Apr 10th, 2008 7 Comments For those who can’t get enough of looking at the new MINI Challenge race car, you’ll want to click through to both of these links.
+ 2008 Australian MINI Challenge in pictures / Round 2 / AUSmotive.com
+ MINI Challenge Wakefield Park 6 Apr 08 / Smugmug (Courtesy of Tiaan)
Sections: JCW, Motorsports Apr 6th, 2008 15 Comments The 2008 European MINI Challenge has officially kicked off at Hockenheim in Germany with one final testing. You can see some reports and even interview over at mini2.info. Or you can look at the photo set after the jump. A huge thanks to Sebastian for making this all available too us. continued →
Sections: JCW, Motorsports, Video Mar 9th, 2008 12 Comments The Austrailan MINI Challenge series kicked off this weekend at Sydney’s Easter Creek race track and in doing debuted the new R56 MINI Challenge race car. We’ve got four videos of the race courtesy of our friends at Ausringers.com continued →
Sections: Motorsports, Official News, R55, R56, Sales Mar 6th, 2008 7 Comments The following is a transcript of Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI, Dr. Kay Segler’s speech at the Geneva Motor Show.
Today everything is dedicated to John Cooper Works. And not only the two new models are making their world debut here, but also the John Cooper Works brand, which is celebrating a wonderful premiere.
Let’s first take a look at the two cars right here in front of you: the MINI John Cooper Works and the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman. For the first time we have a John Cooper Works straight from the factory. Indeed, we even have two models, each offering 155 KW (211 hp) maximum output right from the start. And developing peak torque of 280 Nm/206 lb-ft -including 20 Nm Overboost- the twinscroll turbo ensures really powerful and dynamic acceleration at all times. continued →
Sections: JCW, Motorsports, Video Mar 5th, 2008 15 Comments Looks like the teams are getting ready for this weekend’s season kick-off. We’ll bring you news of the race as soon as we get it. continued →
Sections: JCW, Motorsports, R55, Video Feb 29th, 2008 7 Comments We are sure that you remember the MINI Challenge Safety Car, right? The tricked out neon-green-and-black JCW Clubman we posted about a few months back.
Good chance none of us will ever get to ride in one, so here is the next best thing. Enjoy!
Sections: In the Press, Motorsports Feb 14th, 2008 10 Comments MINI Australia Press ReleaseThe first ever MINI CHALLENGE in Australia has attracted over seven hours television coverage, with the majority of that being LIVE on the Seven Network through V8 Supercars television, including two races from Bathurst.
In a massive coup for the new Series, races two and three from the return of MINI to Mount Panorama will be shown live as part of Channel Seven’s extensive Saturday coverage of the Super Cheap Auto 1000.
MINI CHALLENGE charges into life at Eastern Creek across the weekend of March 7-9 and the third race on Sunday, March 9 will be beamed live into lounge rooms right around Australia.
Sections: JCW, Motorsports Feb 12th, 2008 14 Comments
The MINI Challenge 2008 race car is one step closer to it’s official race debut. Here’s an excerpt from a recent story on Motor Report:
The all new MINI Cooper Works R56 CHALLENGE cars have taken to the sky on their way downunder from Germany. True to their “Flying Brick” moniker, the first 20 cars are currently being airlifted from Germany to Australia, in time to race in the inaugural Australian MINI CHALLENGE Series, due to get underway at Eastern Creek Raceway on the weekend of 7-9 March.
continued →
Sections: JCW, Motorsports Feb 4th, 2008 15 Comments Crash.net the scoop on MINI’s JCW Challenge Race car test at Silverstone. Here’s an excerpt:
Newly announced Avon Tyres British GT Championship driver Paul O’Neill was amongst the drivers to get a taste of the brand new MINI John Cooper Works Challenge when the car hit the track for the first time at Silverstone.
continued →
Sections: Best of the Web, Motorsports, R56 Jan 27th, 2008 5 Comments 
Here’s a great interview with Peter Doulman, winner of the Australian 2L Touring Car Championship in 1993, who will also be running in the upcoming Australian MINI Challenge.
“I’ve had experience working with BMW in the past so I know the quality of their product and the MINI Challenge so far seems to be an extension of that,” he said.
“They not only know how to build race cars, but with the success of MINI Challenge overseas they know how to run a professional and thriving category and we wanted to be a part of that.”
After enormous success in Germany, Great Britain and New Zealand, MINI Challenge Australia will hit Australian tracks at Eastern Creek in March.
[ Doulman To Make Tracks For First Mini Challenge Title ] NMD.com.au
Sections: JCW, Motorsports Jan 12th, 2008 18 Comments 
Four months ago we brought you news that MINI USA was actively trying to assess the viability of bringing the MINI Challenge race car to the US. At the time we asked all those potentially interested in putting their money where their mouths were to contact MINI USA directly and encourage them to bring MINI Challenge car to the US. Apparently it worked.
Over the past week we’ve heard from a couple sources that the wheels are now in motion to debut the US version of the racer at the New York Auto Show. continued →
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