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mwerks.com Mini News The MINI Challenge 2007 is entering its decisive phase – and behind the scenes the stage is already being set for the next season of this unique Clubsport Series. The star of the show in the MINI Challenge 2008 will of course be the new racing car, the MINI John Cooper Works Challenge.
Apart from the teams themselves, for the first time ever other ambitious motorsport enthusiasts will also be able to acquire and race the new MINI John Cooper Works Challenge. With its outstanding performance and superior handling, this unique car is predestined from the start to show its rivals its taillights 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 210 hp. And while this figure is the same as the current MINI Challenge race car, optimized engine characteristics and an increase in torque from 192 to 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 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 62 mph 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 62 mph. Top speed, in turn, is 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 MINI Challenge owes its particular appeal to a truly innovative concept, where motorsport meets lifestyle – a highly attractive blend thrilling for both driver and fan alike. The drivers themselves also contribute to the particular atmosphere and flair of the events, old hands in racing and up-and-coming talents pitching their skills against celebrities from show business and sports. Perhaps the most distinctive racing feature of the MINI Challenge is the absolute equality offered to all drivers entering the races: all cars are technically identical. And it is precisely the supreme handling of the MINI further enhanced by the wide range of safety features in the racing cars that makes the MINI Challenge particularly interesting for both the beginner in racing and the ambitious amateur driver. © Copyright 2003 by mwerks.com |
