A Mini Cooper in the BTCC?

[Goober007]

I was just wondering: Would a Mini Cooper fit the specifications to become a BTC-T car or BTC-P car?

[cos]

The 'old' Mini can't be used as the car in question has to have had at least 2,500 produced in the last 12 months. As for the 'new' mini, don't see any reason why not (although it might fall short of the 4.1m minimum length for BTC-T).

[Goober007]

Oops, sorry, I should have said the 'new' Mini Cooper. That is what I meant.

[thommo_fan]

i'm not sure but i don't think the new mini cooper has a suitable engine.
the honda civic must fall short of the 4.1 minium length?

[Peter]

The new mini would be a definite crowd favourite. Maybe the BTCC should run a celebrity car, similar to the Porsche Carrera Cup, and the Mini could be used!

[MSport-UK]

Originally posted by thommo_fan
i'm not sure but i don't think the new mini cooper has a suitable engine.
the honda civic must fall short of the 4.1 minium length?

Think you've hit it there. The mini engine isn't stunning, and there's no scope for a bigger one in the range that could go into a race version because the engine bay's so tightly packaged, hence the supercharged version.

I don't think BMW would be too fussed about racing it anyway. They seem content enough with racing the 3-Series, the Mini is selling pretty well without it, and if they wanted to get in any of the 'racing heritage' with the Mini, they'd have to use pics of the original Mini winning the Monte - can't seem them being too keen to associate with the Rover Mini after that whole mess.

Besides, particularly with the ETCC cars coming in, they'd be racing their 2 brands against each other if there was a Cooper in the pack.

[MG-ZS EX260]

Originally posted by MSport-UK
I don't think BMW would be too fussed about racing it anyway. They seem content enough with racing the 3-Series, the Mini is selling pretty well without it,

BL**DDY HELL! selling 'pretty well' thats the understatement of the year! just had to say this, the MINI is selling so amazingly well, theres HUGE demand, infact they cant make enough of them for the demand! and in some cases second hand minis are costing more than new! btw Msport-UK dont take it the wronf way im not having a dig at you, just thought id point out the phonemenol demand for the mini.

[touringlegend]

Totally true EX260!

Also, the Mini Cooper already has series in England and Scotland racing with 16+ cars (in Scotland at least)

They are a little tame, but they do their job (advertise the Mini!)

[MSport-UK]

Yeah, okay, they're selling very well!

The Mini brand seems to be in the kind of position that they had Rover Group in, in terms of motorsport, not sales figures.

BMW are keen enough to let people play in single-make series - there was always the MG F Cup, Tomcat challenge, etc, but no real desire to put them up against other brands. Particularly where interests may clash. It would never do for a Mini to enter something like BTCC and be seen to be doing better than a BMW entry, even if they are from the same parent.

[kevin ritson]

But could you imagine the bitterness between MG and a Works Mini team!!

Hang on, with the new rules we could see some real battles with MG and BMW:D Anyone wanna put money on who lasts a lap?