MINI Cooper S JCW GP Kit: In Depth

Press Release

A rarity right from the start

Immediately after production of the MINI Cooper S featuring the John Cooper Works GP Kit had been officially confirmed, MINI dealers everywhere received the first orders from eager customers. And enthusiasts are indeed well-advised to respond quickly, with the 2,000 units built going to MINI aficionados the world over – as is indeed appropriate for a global car like the MINI. Precisely this is why MINI has determined national quotas in order to give fans in as many countries as possible the unique opportunity to own the most powerful MINI ever built.

Right from the beginning, the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit will be an extremely attractive rarity: The connoisseur proudly able to call one of the 2,000 units his own, will enjoy unique driving pleasure, tasteful but nevertheless characteristics design, an interior reflecting the full ambience of motorsport, and an exclusive range of all-round equipment. In particular,however, the outstanding thrill of the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit will be borne out by the car's driving behaviour. After all,the 1.6-litre compressor engine offers not only maximum output of 160 kW or 218 hp, but also – and above all – output per litre truly outstanding even in the realms of the most thoroughbred sports cars.

This will once again underline the supreme character of the MINI, a car which transcends all classes and dividing lines in the market. The MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Kit is a genuine exception in all segments, a car focusing clearly on purist and sporting performance enhanced to the highest standard. At the same time this is a particularly exciting chapter in the glorious history of MINI and, accordingly, a most appropriate contribution to the anniversary of Sir Alec Issigonis, the inventor of Mini, who would have been 100 years old this year.

The MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport Series owes its outstanding appeal to a truly innovative concept: motorsport meets lifestyle.

This blend of qualities is indeed extremely popular among both drivers and fans. Ever since the MINI CHALLENGE was introduced in Germany in 2004, the event has invigorated the motorsport scene. In 2006, therefore, Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, and New Zealand will be just some of the countries featuring a MINI CHALLENGE.

The common elements to be found in all cases are the joy of motorsport and the outstanding thrill of the MINI brand. An additional incentive is that all participants enter the races at the wheel of technically identical MINIs featuring 154 kW/210 hp: This is the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit, driven by people well-known to the spectators from very different events and scenes in modern lifestyle. Hence, not only routined drivers and young, up-and-coming talents are to be admired at the wheel, but also celebrities from television and the film industry thrilled by motorsport taking their seat in the cockpit of the MINI as guest drivers.

The 2006 season – the third racing season since this unique Clubsport Series started in Germany – has already set a new record before even starting: never before have their been four MINI CHALLENGE events accompanying Formula 1 races. In Imola (Grand Prix of San Marino) at the Nürburgring (Grand Prix of Europe), in Magny Cours (Grand Prix of France) and at Hockenheimring (Grand Prix of Germany), MINI Cooper S racing cars will be battling it out on the track, thrilling the Formula 1 crowd in these very special events. And races for the MINI CHALLENGE 2006 will also take place prior to other outstanding events such as the WTCC World Touring Car Championship race in Oschersleben and on the occasion of the classic 24 Hours or Nürburgring, on the legendary Nordschleife.

Passion for Motorsport

Like MINI, the name Cooper has been a synonym for outstanding cars and motorsport from Great Britain for a number of decades. Established in the late ’40s by Charles and his son John Cooper, the Cooper Car Company within just a few years became the country's leading and largest manufacturer of professionally built cars for motorsport.

In 1959 and 1960, Cooper racing cars won both the Constructors’ and the Driver’s titles in the Formula 1 World Championship in 1959 and 1960. And so it is only obvious that in the course of time nearly all legends in motorsport have driven a Cooper: from Jack Brabham through Stirling Moss all the way to Bruce McLaren.

Ever since the Mini was created, the two names Mini and Cooper have been linked inseparably. For after his spectacular entry into Formula 1 in the early ’60s, John Cooper soon also focused on rally racing. And the small and agile Mini quickly proved to be the ideal car for this purpose, soon showing even the well-established teams with their much more powerful cars its rear lights. So Mini’s victorious achievements in the 1964, 1965, and 1967 Monte Carlo Rallies are already a legend.

The Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S were also extremely popular on the road, enhancing the reputation of the classic Mini as a nimble performer with outstanding driving characteristics.

From the start, MINI integrated Mike Cooper, the son of John Cooper, and his Company, John Cooper Works, in the development of new high-performance models. So each MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper S and John Cooper Works Tuning Kit comes with all the passion and know-how of an outstanding company and equally outstanding individuals who have set milestones in motorsport one decade after the other.

¹Weight of car in road trim (DIN) plus 75 kg for driver and luggage.

²May be increased under certain conditions. ³Performance and fuel consumption figures relate to RON 95.