Available Packages:

MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE. Monocoque all-steel bodyshell, three doors, Aerodynamics Package with adjustable rear spoiler, occupant safety provided by a safety cell firmly welded to the body, RECARO bucket seat, five-point safety belt, two-chamber fire extinguishing system 1,598 cc 154 kW (210 hp) at 6,950 rpm 8.3 : 1 245 Nm (181 lb-ft) at 4,500 rpm Front-wheel drive, sports gearbox with six forward gears Independent suspension all round, John Cooper Motorsports suspension by KW with infinitely adjustable dampers and two different spring rates allowed at the front and rear (also with an additional spring at the front), anti-roll bars front and rear, adjustable spring strut dome bar at the front John Cooper Motorsports brakes, front: inner-vented discs measuring 330 mm (13.00?) in diameter and 26 mm (1.02?) in thickness, four-piston aluminium fixed callipers, rear: discs measuring 259 mm (10.20?) in diameter and 10 mm (0.39?) in thickness, four-piston alu-minium fixed callipers Length 3,655 mm
Width 1,688 mm
Height 1,416 mm 2,467 mm (97.1?) Unladen: 1,180 kg (2,602 lb) (minimum weight including driver according to Regulations) approx. 230 km/h (143 mph) 0-100km/h: 6.1 secs

Mini Challenge Race Car

With its outstanding performance and superior handling, this unique car is predestined from the start to show its rivals its tail lights on the track in series and individual events.

The new MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE will be delivered to customers in race trim, including all features essential for supreme performance and enhanced safety. The performance and output figures of the new MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE have been improved once again not only over the regular production model, but also in comparison with the current racing version. A specially developed John Cooper Works performance engine tailored specifically to the requirements of motorsport will provide maximum output of 154 kW/210 hp.

And while this figure are the same as the current MINI CHALLENGE race car, optimised engine characteristics and an increase in torque from 260 to 280 Newton-metres (192-206 lb-ft) provided by overboost gives the driver everything he needs for even better performance and higher speeds on the track. Further points are the reduction in starter weight by 30 kg to 1,150 kg/66 lb to 2,536 lb (including the driver), improved aerodynamics all round and numerous modifications to the chassis and suspension.

The new MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE accelerates to 100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds. And thanks to its special brake system, the car takes just 3.1 seconds to come to a standstill from 100 km/h or 62 mph. Top speed, in turn, is 240 km/h or 149 mph. Another particular forte of the MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE is its outstanding lateral acceleration - the high speed coming into the bend is therefore also achievable when coming out onto the next straight. A limited-slip differential featured for the first time on a MINI CHALLENGE racing car, finally, helps the driver keep to the ideal line at an even higher speed when leaving a bend.

Now in its fourth year, the MINI CHALLENGE has become one of the most successful and popular Clubsport Series in the world. The races, which have been held in Germany, Austria, Belgium and Holland hit the headlines all over Europe, and at the same time the MINI CHALLENGE phenomenon is gaining significance also in other parts of the world: New Zealand is already holding a MINI CHALLENGE racing series and Australia will follow this example for the first time in 2008 with preparations currently under way to establish a national MINI CHALLENGE Series.

The new MINI Cooper S is the first car in its segment to feature a power unit equipped with a twin-scroll turbocharger. This particular principle guarantees very spontaneous power and performance, with the ducts for two cylinders each being combined with one another in the exhaust manifold and MINI turbocharger. Reducing exhaust gas counter-pressure at low engine speeds, this particular configuration serves to make even better use of the dynamic effect of the pulsating gas columns in the manifold, thus ensuring an even better and faster turbocharger response.

An essential point is that all drivers enter the races in technically identical cars: All MINI CHALLENGE racing cars are built to the same standard and optimised for the race track in the interest of absolute equality - an essential feature of the MINI CHALLENGE placing the emphasis on the driver's skills. And to ensure an absolutely perfect balance with equal opportunities, successful drivers are required to carry extra weight in the subsequent races depending on their initial result, the winning car, for example, carrying extra ballast in the next race. And taking the example of the World Touring Car Championship, the top six drivers in the first race subsequently enter the next race in a reversed grid.