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Avenue of the Giants Weekend Run - Sat. March 23, 2024

Saturday will be a very full day of cruising from Novato up through the Avenue of the Giants and ending at Eel River Brewing in Fortuna. Sun...

MINI Nürburgring 24 Hour Race Car To Be Revealed Thursday

MINI Motorsport posted the following:
Official Release: 146 and 147 – Remember these numbers, for over a hundred thousand eyes will be trained upon them as MINI competes in this weekend’s Nürburgring 24 Hour Race. Following their progress will surely pay off, for not only they are linked to a strong team with fast drivers, but to spectacular race cars, too.

At this point most teams have moved into their quarters at the legendary race circuit, honed their cars to perfection, and planned their strategies. In short: preparations are in their final stages, as they are for the entire MINI Motorsport Team. “We are looking forward to the challenges posed by the Green Hell,” says Dirk Hollweg, Leader, MINI Motorsport. “It will certainly be a unique experience.”

MINI fans have a further highlight to look forward to even before the official start of the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race, as the MINI race car entered in the event will be officially unveiled on Thursday morning. However, one thing is already clear: the new MINI is a real stunner, and powerful, too. To underscore its sporty qualities, the name John Cooper Works is appended.

Full details on the new MINI will be available immediately after Thursday’s official launch, both here on the official MINI Motorsport website, and on our social media channels Twitter and Facebook. Naturally we will report fully throughout the race, which starts at 16 00 on Saturday. Checking in regularly with us will most certainly pay dividends.

Should the foregoing still not prove sufficient, then the car numbers 139, 142, 152, 153 and 154 are worth remembering, as these are also attached to MINIs competing in the race. The cars have been entered by Dörr Motorsport (139), Schirra motoring (142, 152) and s.i.g. Motorsport (153, 154), customer sport teams who have entered specially modified versions of the MINI in the SP 3T class of this long-distance classic event.

Hankering for more MINI? No problem: The support programme of the event in the Green Hell features the fifth round of the MINI Challenge Germany. Overall points leader Hendrik Vieth will be there. He narrowly leads the championship by 101 points to the 94 of Nico Bastian, with Fredrik Lestrup, who last time out celebrated his maiden MINI Challenge victory at the Sachsenring, being a further three points adrift. All three drivers are also entered in the 24 Hour Race.

Heaps of MINI power, in other words, and a true Green Hell adventure to look forward to. It will be spectacular; the countdown has begun …
The accompanying photo was obtained from Evo Magazine’s Dickie Meaden (via Twitter) whic spotted the disguised Coupe at the 'Ring. It may well be the race car MINI is set to reveal on Thursday.