In disappointing, but perhaps unsurprising news, BMW Australia today announced the MINI Challenge series would not continue beyond the current season. Originally set up in 2008 with a five-year commitment commercial realities have influenced BMW Australia’s position.
MINI national manager, David Woollcott, explains, “Motorsport is becoming increasingly expensive and, together with a contraction in the television exposure, this has meant the race series has become financially unviable.
“MINI would also like to recognize the contribution of all those who participated in MINI Challenge including V8 Supercars, CAMS, our series sponsors Hertz and Pizza Capers and most of all, the teams and drivers who made MINI Challenge such a thrilling spectacle.”
This means the upcoming round on Sydney’s streets at Homebush (3–5 December) will be the last round for the series.
AUSmotive passes on its best wishes to the organisers (Toleman Motorsport), the team owners and all the drivers. Here’s hoping Homebush is a great celebration of a category that has provided some thrilling entertainment over the last three years.
MINI Challenge to End in 2010
BMW Group Australia today announced that after three highly successful years, the MINI Challenge race series would not be continued in 2011.
The final race of the 2010 series will be the Sydney Street Circuit at Homebush on 3-5 December.
MINI national manager, David Woollcott, said the race series had been a tremendous success but was an extremely costly enterprise.
“Motorsport is becoming increasingly expensive and, together with a contraction in the television exposure, this has meant the race series has become financially unviable,†said Mr Woollcott.
David Woollcott expressed his sincere gratitude to race organizers Toleman Motorsport who operated MINI Challenge as category rights holder.
“Toleman has brought a wealth of motorsport experience to the series and has delivered three outstanding seasons of racing to the highest international standards,†said Mr Woollcott
“We owe the success of MINI Challenge in Australia to Toleman’s enthusiasm and hard work,†he said.
“MINI would also like to recognize the contribution of all those who participated in MINI Challenge including V8 Supercars, CAMS, our series sponsors Hertz and Pizza Capers and most of all, the teams and drivers who made MINI Challenge such a thrilling spectacle,†said Mr Woollcott.
4 replies on “BMW Australia withdraws support for MINI Challenge”
Here’s to hoping there will be some cheap race cars out there in the market when the events are over… its a shame, the event was really cool!
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