Rated M
20-10-2008, 11:41 PM
E30Racers in the Mini challenge. Michael and Nick Stillwell and E30 Racing champion from 2006 Nathan Geier......
Feb 11th, 2008
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.
These are the very first of the new R56 generation MINI Hardtops in the world and Eastern Creek will be hosting the competition debut for the model, with the European CHALLENGE due to kick off later this year during the northern Spring.
The MINI Cooper Works CHALLENGE cars are built in Plant Oxford, in the UK, the home of all MINI production cars. They are then shipped to BMW Motorsport in Germany for final race fit out which sees the fitment of roll cages, fire extinguishers, six-point safety harnesses and HANS head and neck support compatible race seats as well as competition brakes, wheels and a distinctive aero body kit.
Under the bonnet of each MINI CHALLENGE car sits a MINI John Cooper Works Performance Engine - a 1.6-litre four-cylinder featuring a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct petrol injection complete with racing exhaust. Max power is a healthy 154kW, enough to see the little racers sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and power on to a top speed of 240 km/h.
Hauling the racers down at the end of the straights are racing ABS-backed brakes which have no trouble dealing with the lightweight MINI (1,150 kg including driver) - 100 km/h to a dead stop takes just 3.1 seconds and 31 metres.
The cars all feature independent suspension, with MacPherson spring struts at the front, and a central-arm rear axle, 17-inch aluminium rims in MINI CHALLENGE design, dampers that are adjustable for compression and rebound (made by KW Automotive), along with an adjustable spring strut support at the front. Race tyres and an improved limited-slip differential, round out the package and ensure that handling is ‘go-kart-like’.
The Australian MINI CHALLENGE series comprises eight rounds run in association with the V8 Supercars Australia calendar, and includes visits to such iconic locations as Bathurst, Sandown, Phillip Island and Barbagello in Perth.
The rights to televise the MINI CHALLENGE series have been confirmed with the Seven Network, which means (unlike the Bathurst production car enduro) you will be able to see the MINI’s in action from the comfort of your lounge. They should make for some close knit, hard-fought racing and are guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.
By Gordon Lomas: Courier Mail
May 03, 2008 12:00am
THIS time around the Mini receives hormone replacement therapy with an injection of serious racing genes.
It is no coincidence that BMW Australia, (BMW are the custodians of the Mini brand worldwide), which has done a super job of making the little car fashionable on the road again, has launched the one-make Mini Challenge motor racing series in Australia this year.
The decision to bring in 25 cars for the eight-round championship comes after BMW started making purpose-built Minis for racing out of its motorsport headquarters in Germany last year.
Enter the R56 which is credited as being the fastest Mini yet built.
The R56 is a complete departure from the R53 which BMW Australia used last year in Targa Tasmania.
The R53 machines were road cars fitted out with roll cages.
The R56 uses turbo boost as opposed to the superchargers of the R53 and it runs many parts which are not used on the road car.
Out of the same factory in Germany are the Schnitzer Team Germany BMW 320si and similar machines run by Team UK and ROAL Team Italy-Spain along with a handful of privateer outfits that run in the World Touring Car Championship.
These Minis have also shared some space at the racing headquarters in Germany with the thumping BMW M3 GTR which is tipped to make its debut in the flourishing American Le Mans Series in the US soon.
The Minis have come from quality stock and are full of carbon fibre bits, a double DTM-style rear diffuser and aero kits.
"That's the level of thinking that's gone into the Mini race car," Mini Challenge series spokesman Matt Payne said.
"Whereas the R53 was a road car which was then modified to run in Targa Tasmania, the R56 cars are specifically built for motorsport."
The cars have bigger brakes, coil suspension all-round that is adjustable up to five degrees of negative camber, and they run a control brake pad and a control 17-inch Dunlop Formula R racing slick wrapped around Borbet aluminium rims.
A race-specific engine control unit is handed out to teams at the start of race meetings and must be handed back at the finish of a weekend, to ensure parity.
Both the 1598cc inline four-cylinder engine, that has a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection, and the gearbox are upgraded from the road car, and are both sealed.
Of the 25 cars which have been brought into Australia there are 16 which have owners for the season.
If you want to get your backside in one it will cost $88,000 plus GST, and then there are teams agreement fees and annual entry fees on top of that.
The eight-round series predominantly runs on the undercard to the V8 Supercars and across the season there is more than seven hours of action televised on Channel 7, four hours of which is live.
Former Australian sprint car champion Todd Wanless and Brisbane luxury motor yacht businessman Darren Berry run cars under the Motorline BMW dealership umbrella out of Springwood. Scott Robinson from Motorline, who also doubles as the Mini Challenge technical manager, says the focus for the team was an "arrive and drive" type of deal.
"The focus is arrive and drive and they (drivers) pay for damage," Robinson said.
Robinson and Motorline dealer principal Craig Rose are passionate about motor racing and saw the two-car Mini Challenge team as doing something different from rival BMW franchises.
After spending 15 years with McLaren, working on the F1 road cars in Britain, Robinson returned home where he scored the Motorline job three years ago.
The racing program also benefits from the customer track days the dealership puts on for a dedicated group of about eight buyers of high-performance M cars.
"It's a perfect fit because we can tie the two activities in together," Robinson said.
Other drivers in the Mini Challenge series include highly decorated multiple Australian Drivers champion and Nations Cup winner Paul Stokell, TV presenter-racing driver Grant Denyer and Gary Young, the former fitness coach at the Hawthorn and Essendon football clubs.
The next round is at Barbagallo, Perth, from May 9-11, coinciding with round four of the V8 Supercar championship.
Maximum fun on the track
The cabin of the Mini Challenge racecar is almost civilised.
For a purpose-built competition racer there are some comforts like the telescopic and height adjustable steering wheel.
On a warm autumn afternoon out at Queensland Raceway the R56 Mini was ready to fire into action on the short circuit.
It is a quick little jigger, firing off the line with purpose. The steering wheel is almost open wheeler responsive with electrical power assist.
Minimal steering input, easy does it, too much angle and power on and the R56 will and did switch ends before you can process the first curse that enters your head.
One of the big differences between the R56 and the R53 road-based car is the smooth delivery of power and the cornering pace.
Running on 17-inch Dunlop racing slicks, the Mini sticks to the tarmac. The edge of adhesion can be found far sooner than some high-performance road cars but the fluidness of its cornering power helped by the adjustable suspension and the more purposeful aero package takes it to a new level.
Braking power is also up with the John Cooper Works set-up carrying more bite than the road car.
It becomes twitchy and squirms over the bumps and lumps of Queensland Raceway and it takes a while to become comfortable.
The rear feels as if it is moving and wanting to break free from being unsettled over the bumps when the brakes are applied at the same time.
Which simply means it is a package that can be unsettled over the rougher stuff.
And that makes it a lively affair in the cockpit with just the one car on the track, let alone 15 other cars buzzing around.
This is serious motor racing fun at a relatively affordable price. A Mini product for maximum enjoyment.
R56 Mini John Cooper Works Challenge race car
ENGINE: four-cylinder inline with twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection.
GEARBOX: six-speed manual with reverse.
POWER: 154kW.
TORQUE: 260Nm (280Nm with overboost).
TRANSMISSION: front-wheel drive, six-speed manual, limited-slip differential.
SUSPENSION: MacPherson spring struts at the front, central arm rear axle, dampers adjustable both inbound and rebound, adjustable spring strut support at the front, limited slip differential.
TYRES: 215/45R17 Dunlop Formula R slick.
WHEELS: 17-inch Borbet aluminium rims, AP Racing race-specific ABS.
BODY: John Cooper Works aero pack with new performance front spoiler, adjustable rear spoiler and rear diffuser, air pressure jack system.
0-100km/h: 6.1secs.
100km/h-0: 3.1secs.
SAFETY: Rollcage welded into the car, six-point safety belt, automatic fire extinguisher, racing seat and HANS (Head and Neck Support) device mandatory.
WEIGHT: 1150kg (including driver).
Feb 11th, 2008
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.
These are the very first of the new R56 generation MINI Hardtops in the world and Eastern Creek will be hosting the competition debut for the model, with the European CHALLENGE due to kick off later this year during the northern Spring.
The MINI Cooper Works CHALLENGE cars are built in Plant Oxford, in the UK, the home of all MINI production cars. They are then shipped to BMW Motorsport in Germany for final race fit out which sees the fitment of roll cages, fire extinguishers, six-point safety harnesses and HANS head and neck support compatible race seats as well as competition brakes, wheels and a distinctive aero body kit.
Under the bonnet of each MINI CHALLENGE car sits a MINI John Cooper Works Performance Engine - a 1.6-litre four-cylinder featuring a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct petrol injection complete with racing exhaust. Max power is a healthy 154kW, enough to see the little racers sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and power on to a top speed of 240 km/h.
Hauling the racers down at the end of the straights are racing ABS-backed brakes which have no trouble dealing with the lightweight MINI (1,150 kg including driver) - 100 km/h to a dead stop takes just 3.1 seconds and 31 metres.
The cars all feature independent suspension, with MacPherson spring struts at the front, and a central-arm rear axle, 17-inch aluminium rims in MINI CHALLENGE design, dampers that are adjustable for compression and rebound (made by KW Automotive), along with an adjustable spring strut support at the front. Race tyres and an improved limited-slip differential, round out the package and ensure that handling is ‘go-kart-like’.
The Australian MINI CHALLENGE series comprises eight rounds run in association with the V8 Supercars Australia calendar, and includes visits to such iconic locations as Bathurst, Sandown, Phillip Island and Barbagello in Perth.
The rights to televise the MINI CHALLENGE series have been confirmed with the Seven Network, which means (unlike the Bathurst production car enduro) you will be able to see the MINI’s in action from the comfort of your lounge. They should make for some close knit, hard-fought racing and are guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.
By Gordon Lomas: Courier Mail
May 03, 2008 12:00am
THIS time around the Mini receives hormone replacement therapy with an injection of serious racing genes.
It is no coincidence that BMW Australia, (BMW are the custodians of the Mini brand worldwide), which has done a super job of making the little car fashionable on the road again, has launched the one-make Mini Challenge motor racing series in Australia this year.
The decision to bring in 25 cars for the eight-round championship comes after BMW started making purpose-built Minis for racing out of its motorsport headquarters in Germany last year.
Enter the R56 which is credited as being the fastest Mini yet built.
The R56 is a complete departure from the R53 which BMW Australia used last year in Targa Tasmania.
The R53 machines were road cars fitted out with roll cages.
The R56 uses turbo boost as opposed to the superchargers of the R53 and it runs many parts which are not used on the road car.
Out of the same factory in Germany are the Schnitzer Team Germany BMW 320si and similar machines run by Team UK and ROAL Team Italy-Spain along with a handful of privateer outfits that run in the World Touring Car Championship.
These Minis have also shared some space at the racing headquarters in Germany with the thumping BMW M3 GTR which is tipped to make its debut in the flourishing American Le Mans Series in the US soon.
The Minis have come from quality stock and are full of carbon fibre bits, a double DTM-style rear diffuser and aero kits.
"That's the level of thinking that's gone into the Mini race car," Mini Challenge series spokesman Matt Payne said.
"Whereas the R53 was a road car which was then modified to run in Targa Tasmania, the R56 cars are specifically built for motorsport."
The cars have bigger brakes, coil suspension all-round that is adjustable up to five degrees of negative camber, and they run a control brake pad and a control 17-inch Dunlop Formula R racing slick wrapped around Borbet aluminium rims.
A race-specific engine control unit is handed out to teams at the start of race meetings and must be handed back at the finish of a weekend, to ensure parity.
Both the 1598cc inline four-cylinder engine, that has a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection, and the gearbox are upgraded from the road car, and are both sealed.
Of the 25 cars which have been brought into Australia there are 16 which have owners for the season.
If you want to get your backside in one it will cost $88,000 plus GST, and then there are teams agreement fees and annual entry fees on top of that.
The eight-round series predominantly runs on the undercard to the V8 Supercars and across the season there is more than seven hours of action televised on Channel 7, four hours of which is live.
Former Australian sprint car champion Todd Wanless and Brisbane luxury motor yacht businessman Darren Berry run cars under the Motorline BMW dealership umbrella out of Springwood. Scott Robinson from Motorline, who also doubles as the Mini Challenge technical manager, says the focus for the team was an "arrive and drive" type of deal.
"The focus is arrive and drive and they (drivers) pay for damage," Robinson said.
Robinson and Motorline dealer principal Craig Rose are passionate about motor racing and saw the two-car Mini Challenge team as doing something different from rival BMW franchises.
After spending 15 years with McLaren, working on the F1 road cars in Britain, Robinson returned home where he scored the Motorline job three years ago.
The racing program also benefits from the customer track days the dealership puts on for a dedicated group of about eight buyers of high-performance M cars.
"It's a perfect fit because we can tie the two activities in together," Robinson said.
Other drivers in the Mini Challenge series include highly decorated multiple Australian Drivers champion and Nations Cup winner Paul Stokell, TV presenter-racing driver Grant Denyer and Gary Young, the former fitness coach at the Hawthorn and Essendon football clubs.
The next round is at Barbagallo, Perth, from May 9-11, coinciding with round four of the V8 Supercar championship.
Maximum fun on the track
The cabin of the Mini Challenge racecar is almost civilised.
For a purpose-built competition racer there are some comforts like the telescopic and height adjustable steering wheel.
On a warm autumn afternoon out at Queensland Raceway the R56 Mini was ready to fire into action on the short circuit.
It is a quick little jigger, firing off the line with purpose. The steering wheel is almost open wheeler responsive with electrical power assist.
Minimal steering input, easy does it, too much angle and power on and the R56 will and did switch ends before you can process the first curse that enters your head.
One of the big differences between the R56 and the R53 road-based car is the smooth delivery of power and the cornering pace.
Running on 17-inch Dunlop racing slicks, the Mini sticks to the tarmac. The edge of adhesion can be found far sooner than some high-performance road cars but the fluidness of its cornering power helped by the adjustable suspension and the more purposeful aero package takes it to a new level.
Braking power is also up with the John Cooper Works set-up carrying more bite than the road car.
It becomes twitchy and squirms over the bumps and lumps of Queensland Raceway and it takes a while to become comfortable.
The rear feels as if it is moving and wanting to break free from being unsettled over the bumps when the brakes are applied at the same time.
Which simply means it is a package that can be unsettled over the rougher stuff.
And that makes it a lively affair in the cockpit with just the one car on the track, let alone 15 other cars buzzing around.
This is serious motor racing fun at a relatively affordable price. A Mini product for maximum enjoyment.
R56 Mini John Cooper Works Challenge race car
ENGINE: four-cylinder inline with twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection.
GEARBOX: six-speed manual with reverse.
POWER: 154kW.
TORQUE: 260Nm (280Nm with overboost).
TRANSMISSION: front-wheel drive, six-speed manual, limited-slip differential.
SUSPENSION: MacPherson spring struts at the front, central arm rear axle, dampers adjustable both inbound and rebound, adjustable spring strut support at the front, limited slip differential.
TYRES: 215/45R17 Dunlop Formula R slick.
WHEELS: 17-inch Borbet aluminium rims, AP Racing race-specific ABS.
BODY: John Cooper Works aero pack with new performance front spoiler, adjustable rear spoiler and rear diffuser, air pressure jack system.
0-100km/h: 6.1secs.
100km/h-0: 3.1secs.
SAFETY: Rollcage welded into the car, six-point safety belt, automatic fire extinguisher, racing seat and HANS (Head and Neck Support) device mandatory.
WEIGHT: 1150kg (including driver).