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| category = [[Touring car racing]]
| category = [[Touring car racing]]<br>[[One make racing]]
| inaugural = 2008
| inaugural = 2008
| drivers =
| drivers =
| teams =
| teams =
| constructors = 1
| constructors =
| tyres = {{flagicon|UK}} [[Dunlop Tyres|Dunlop]]
| tyres = [[Dunlop Tyres|Dunlop]]
| engines =
| engines =
| country/region = {{flagicon|AUS}}
| country/region = Australia
| folded =
| folded = 2010
| champion driver =
| champion driver = [[Chris Alajajian]]
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The '''Australian MINI Challenge''' is a motor sport category in [[Australia]]. New for 2008, the MINI Challenge will hit the track in support to both the [[V8 Supercar Championship Series]] and the [[Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series]]<ref name="V8">2008 V8 Supercars Eastern Creek round official event programme</ref>.
The '''Australian Mini Challenge''' was a [[touring car racing]] category in [[Australia]]. First held in 2008, the Mini Challenge supported both the [[V8 Supercar Championship Series]] and the [[V8 Supercar Development Series]].<ref name="V8">2008 V8 Supercars Eastern Creek round official event programme</ref> The category is managed by [[Toleman|Toleman Motorsport]], who took over management rights following the demise of previous rights holder, Sherrin Motorsport.<ref name=AUSmotive>[http://www.ausmotive.com/2008/09/10/australian-mini-challenge-under-new-management.html AUSmotive.com] ''Australian Mini Challenge under new management''</ref> Late in 2010, BMW announced the withdrawal of its support of the series, with the final running held at the [[2010 Sydney Telstra 500]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.speedcafe.com.au/2010/11/26/mini-challenge-to-end-in-2010/ |title=BMW pulls the plug on MINI Challenge « Speedcafe - Get Your Racing Fix |accessdate=2010-11-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403205331/http://www.speedcafe.com.au/2010/11/26/mini-challenge-to-end-in-2010/ |archivedate=2011-04-03 }}</ref>


The '''Australian Mini Challenge''' was launched by MINI Australia, being the department of BMW Group Australia responsible for the MINI brand. The National MINI Manager (General Manager of MINI brand in Australia) Justin Hocevar developed the business case, negotiated partnerships & launched the series.
⚫
==The car==
⚫
[[Image:MINI_Challenge_at_Phillip_Island_2008.jpg|thumb|left|The MINIs in support to the L&H 500, 2008]]
The new [[Mini (BMW)|R56 Mini]] hardtops are built by [[BMW]] Motorsport in [[Germany]] and flown over to Australia<ref name="V8"/>.


The first and only order of 25 vehicles from BMW Group were imported ADR and duty exempt, for the explicit use of motorsport activities. The vehicles were rushed into production & arrived in Australia with little spare time for the first round, arriving via airfreight into Sydney. During their initial 'shakedown' event at Eastern Creek. The vehicles developed a technical problem with a turbo component (wastegate) which would cause the vehicles to go into 'limp-home' mode. Working through the night, local technicians liaised with technical support in Munich before a software patch was issued, a resulting modest power reduction meant the vehicles stayed below a certain heat range whereby the turbocharger wastegate component would fail.
[[Image:MINI_Challenge_at_Eastern_Creek_2008.jpg|thumb|right|The MINIs on track, Eastern Creek, 2008]]
⚫
===Engine===
The Mini Challenge cars are driven by a 1.6 litre four cylinder, direct petrol injection engine producing 154kw. The cars can go from 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 6.1 seconds and have a top speed of 240km/h (150mph)<ref name="V8"/>.


The series was intended to support the development of the MINI brand in Australia. The purpose was to improve the masculinity / masculine appeal of the brand, to demonstrate the robustness of the vehicles and to develop the brand's performance credentials, particularly through the sub-brand JCW (John Cooper Works). As a result, the MINI brand in Australia enjoyed a high skew towards the more profitable JCW products. JCW sales in Australia ranked amongst the best-performing markets in the word.
===Suspension/brakes/wheels===
The 1150kg Mini Challenge car features race-bred independent suspension, riding on anti-lock racing brakes and 17-inch rims. There are adjustable springs and dampers to fine tune the race speed of the car at the various circuits that the class visits<ref name="V8"/>.


In 2011 the series competitors were thrown a lifeline and invited to compete in the [[2011 Australian Manufacturers' Championship|Australian Manufacturers' Championship]], in a series called the AMC Mini Cup. The only changes to the rules were the requirement to run on radial tyres and the addition of a dry break fuel system to the cars for long-distance events. The 2011 class pointscore was won by the only series regular Beric Lynton. Only three teams competed all season, the other two being the Sherrins Rentals team and Brendan Cook's team. All three cars never attended the same round however, with only one attending some rounds.
==2008 Calendar==

The 2008 Australian Mini Challenge will be contested over eight rounds, starting at Eastern Creek in March and finishing at Oran Park in December<ref>[http://www.mini.com.au/indexframe.asp?PageID=27379 MINI Challenge - MINI Australia - Official MINI website]</ref>.
⚫
==The car==
⚫
{| class="wikitable"
The [[Mini (BMW)|R56 Mini]] hardtops were built by [[BMW]] Motorsport in [[Germany]] and flown to Australia. The Mini Challenge cars were based on the road going John Cooper works models, with a 1.6 litre, four cylinder, turbocharged engine producing 155&nbsp;kW (208&nbsp;hp). Weighing 1150&nbsp;kg (2535&nbsp;lb), the cars could accelerate to 100&nbsp;km/h (62&nbsp;mph) in just over six seconds and reach a top speed of 240&nbsp;km/h (149&nbsp;mph).<ref name="V8"/>

{{-}}
⚫
[[Image:MINI Challenge at Phillip Island 2008.jpg|thumb|right|The Minis in support to the [[2008 L&H 500]]]]

==Series Champions==
⚫
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
|-
! Rd.
! Year
! Driver
! Supporting
! Circuit
! Team
! City / State
! Date
! Winner
|-
|-
! [[2008 Australian Mini Challenge|2008]]
! 1
⚫
| [[Neil McFadyen]]
| V8SCS 2
| Doulman Automotive
| [[Eastern Creek Raceway]]
| [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]]
| 7-9 Mar
⚫
| Neil McFadyen
|-
|-
! [[2009 Australian Mini Challenge|2009]]
! 2
⚫
| [[Paul Stokell]]
| FV8SCS 2
| DecoRug Racing
| [[Wakefield Park]]
| [[Goulburn]], New South Wales
| 4-6 Apr
| Nathan Geier
|-
|-
! 3
! 2010
| [[Chris Alajajian]]
| V8SCS 4
| Jack Hillerman Racing
| [[Barbagallo Raceway]]
⚫
|}
| [[Perth,_Western_Australia|Perth]], [[Western Australia]]

| 9-11 May
⚫
===Mini Cup===
| Damien White
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
⚫
|-
! 4
| V8SCS 5
| [[Sandown International Raceway]]
| [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria,_Australia|Victoria]]
| 7-9 Jun
| [[Jason Bargwanna]]
|-
! 5
| V8SCS 9
| [[Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit]]
| [[Phillip_Island_(Victoria)|Phillip Island]], Victoria
| 12-14 Sep
| Jason Bargwanna
|-
! 6
| V8SCS 10
| [[Mount Panorama]]
| [[Bathurst,_New_South_Wales|Bathurst]], New South Wales
| 9-12 Oct
| Jason Bargwanna
|-
|-
! 7
! Year
! Driver
| V8SCS 13
! Team
| [[Symmons Plains Raceway]]
| [[Launceston,_Tasmania|Launceston]], [[Tasmania]]
| 21-23 Nov
⚫
| Paul Stokell
|-
|-
! 8
! 2011
| V8SCS 14
| Beric Lynton
| Bruce Lynton Mini Garage
| [[Oran Park Raceway]]
| Sydney, New South Wales
| 4-7 Dec
|
|}
|}
*V8SCS - V8 Supercar Championship Series
*FV8SCS - Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
{{V8 Supercar support categories}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090830233623/http://www.mini.com.au/indexframe.asp?PageID=27379 MINI Challenge - Planet MINI - www.mini.com.au]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120424174124/http://www.manufacturerschampionship.com.au//documents/AMC%20Mini%20Cup%202011%20points.pdf 2011 AMC Mini Cup]


[[Category:Motorsport in Australia]]
[[Category:Touring car racing series]]
[[Category:Auto racing series in Australia|Mini Challenge]]
[[Category:One-make series]]

Latest revision as of 11:56, 20 August 2022

Australian Mini Challenge
CategoryTouring car racing
One make racing
CountryAustralia
Inaugural season2008
Folded2010
Tyre suppliersDunlop
Last Drivers' championChris Alajajian
Official websiteMINI Challenge - Planet MINI - www.mini.com.au

The Australian Mini Challenge was a touring car racing category in Australia. First held in 2008, the Mini Challenge supported both the V8 Supercar Championship Series and the V8 Supercar Development Series.[1] The category is managed by Toleman Motorsport, who took over management rights following the demise of previous rights holder, Sherrin Motorsport.[2] Late in 2010, BMW announced the withdrawal of its support of the series, with the final running held at the 2010 Sydney Telstra 500.[3]

The Australian Mini Challenge was launched by MINI Australia, being the department of BMW Group Australia responsible for the MINI brand. The National MINI Manager (General Manager of MINI brand in Australia) Justin Hocevar developed the business case, negotiated partnerships & launched the series.

The first and only order of 25 vehicles from BMW Group were imported ADR and duty exempt, for the explicit use of motorsport activities. The vehicles were rushed into production & arrived in Australia with little spare time for the first round, arriving via airfreight into Sydney. During their initial 'shakedown' event at Eastern Creek. The vehicles developed a technical problem with a turbo component (wastegate) which would cause the vehicles to go into 'limp-home' mode. Working through the night, local technicians liaised with technical support in Munich before a software patch was issued, a resulting modest power reduction meant the vehicles stayed below a certain heat range whereby the turbocharger wastegate component would fail.

The series was intended to support the development of the MINI brand in Australia. The purpose was to improve the masculinity / masculine appeal of the brand, to demonstrate the robustness of the vehicles and to develop the brand's performance credentials, particularly through the sub-brand JCW (John Cooper Works). As a result, the MINI brand in Australia enjoyed a high skew towards the more profitable JCW products. JCW sales in Australia ranked amongst the best-performing markets in the word.

In 2011 the series competitors were thrown a lifeline and invited to compete in the Australian Manufacturers' Championship, in a series called the AMC Mini Cup. The only changes to the rules were the requirement to run on radial tyres and the addition of a dry break fuel system to the cars for long-distance events. The 2011 class pointscore was won by the only series regular Beric Lynton. Only three teams competed all season, the other two being the Sherrins Rentals team and Brendan Cook's team. All three cars never attended the same round however, with only one attending some rounds.

The car

[edit]

The R56 Mini hardtops were built by BMW Motorsport in Germany and flown to Australia. The Mini Challenge cars were based on the road going John Cooper works models, with a 1.6 litre, four cylinder, turbocharged engine producing 155 kW (208 hp). Weighing 1150 kg (2535 lb), the cars could accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just over six seconds and reach a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph).[1]

The Minis in support to the 2008 L&H 500

Series Champions

[edit]
Year Driver Team
2008 Neil McFadyen Doulman Automotive
2009 Paul Stokell DecoRug Racing
2010 Chris Alajajian Jack Hillerman Racing

Mini Cup

[edit]
Year Driver Team
2011 Beric Lynton Bruce Lynton Mini Garage

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 2008 V8 Supercars Eastern Creek round official event programme
  2. ^ AUSmotive.com Australian Mini Challenge under new management
  3. ^ "BMW pulls the plug on MINI Challenge « Speedcafe - Get Your Racing Fix". Archived from the original on 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
[edit]
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