MINI Challenge cars are very, very cool. Take one road-going JCW hardtop, rip its guts out and turn it into a bona fide racecar. Do that a few times over and put them all on a track and you have a recipe for fun and rubbing doors.
The 3rd-gen MINI Challenge car is ready to terrorise circuits around England. We trust you’ll enjoy this video brought to us by Xcar.
They say all good things must come to an end, and for those who like watching MINIs fanging around Australian race tracks that’s exactly what has happened. Following BMW Australia’s decision to withdraw its support for the category, despite beginning with a five-year plan back in 2008, the Round 7 action at Sydney’s Olympic Park was the last MINI Challenge race on local soil for the foreseeable future.
Chris Alajajian led the points table before the final round of the year at Homebush and he had to fend off the category’s most consistent competitor and reigning champ, Paul Stokell, to wrap up the title. “The Chris” was good enough to do just that and in doing so became the third man crowned Australian MINI Challenge champion.
To see how he did it just watch the highlights package after the break.
Congratulations to Chris Alajajian who was crowned 2010 MINI Challenge champion at the series finale in Sydney on the weekend. Alajajian led the standings going into the round, but had to fend off 2009 defending champ Paul Stokell, who was within reach of claiming back-t0-back titles.
In the end victory in Race 1 for Alajajian meant a solid fifth place in Race 2 was enough to seal the deal. Speaking after the event Alajajian said, “Consistency this year was key and we didn’t put a foot wrong all year apart from at the Gold Coast, and this was a major factor in our success. The points system this year made racing really close and I think we have showcased the best season out of the three years this series has been run.”
Following BMW Australia’s recent announcement to end the series Alajajian will be the final MINI Challenge title holder and, along with Stokell, he joins 2008 winner Neil McFadyen on the Australian honour roll.
There’s more after the break and TV highlights will be added when available.
With one round to go, defending series champ Paul Stokell picked a good time to bag his first Round win at the Gold Coast last month. That puts him very much within striking distance of Chris Alajajian, who has led the 2010 MINI Challenge all year. Alajajian did manage to win Race 1 on the Gold Coast, but suffered car issues thereafter.
Stokell finished all three races on the podium, but it was his Race 2 win that will go down in the history books. His winning margin was a mere 0.014 seconds, thanks to a last corner lunge to snatch the race from rising star Sean Carter. You can see highlights of that race after the break.
Glenn Seton returned for another drive in the UberStar Car and became the first driver to secure a race win in car #50 by taking out Race 3.
So, the final MINI Challenge race to be held in Australia for the foreseeable future will take place in Sydney next weekend. Let’s hope it’s a great spectacle with some good clean racing.
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.
Apologies for the lateness of this update. In short, Chris Alajajian didn’t manage a race win, but he still pocketed enough points to take the Round win at Phillip Island and maintained his MINI Challenge series lead.
Defending champion Paul Stokell had his share of dramas and followed victory in Race 1 by missing all but one corner of Race 2 due to an accident on lap 1. A massive shout out to his Deco Rug team for getting him back on track for Race 3. He didn’t let them down, either, putting in a stirring drive from the back of the grid to cross the line in first place. It was that sort of weekend, really.
Highlights can be see after the jump, as well as the series leaderboard. Also included is a onboard footage from Sean Carter’s car. It shows all of Race 1 and is added with thanks to the MINI Challenge YouTube channel.
The MINI Challenge returns this weekend at the Gold Coast 600.
The Australian MINI Challenge series is about to awaken from its mid-season slumber. The pocket rockets will be on course at Phillip Island from 10–12 September.
Chris Alajajian currently leads the series on 512 points. In second, on 464.5 points, is 2009 Champion Paul Stokell. Young Victorian Peter McNiven, enjoying his maiden MINI Challenge season, is close behind in third place on 426 points.
Fans of the MINI Challenge series can keep up to date on AUSmotive, of course, but also via twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.
To see what else has been happening since Townsville check out the material after the jump.
Chris Alajajian extended his lead in the 2010 MINI Challenge by claiming the round in Townsville earlier this month. Reigning title holder Paul Stokell finshed Round 4 in second place and Beric Lynton, making his first appearance of the year, claimed the final podium spot in the three race program.
Speaking after the final race Alajajian said, “My team continue to do a fantastic job with the R56 Challenge car and it makes it so much more comfortable for me to drive because I have full trust in my car and team. We now have a big gap until the next round at Phillip Island which is a really fast event where anything can happen so expect some exciting racing down there MINI Challenge fans!”
There’s a selection of images on show after the break, as well as the full press release from MINI Challenge. Round 5 action takes place on Phillip Island in mid-September at the L&H 500.
[Pics: Spherix]
UPDATE: TV highlights have been added below.
After being Australian teammates back in June Chris Alajajian (left) and Paul Stokell resume hostilities as the two leading drivers in the 2010 Hertz MINI Challenge. Round 4 action takes place as part of the Sucrogen Townsville 400 this weekend.
Speaking before the event series leader Alajajian said, “Paul and I had a pretty fierce battle here last year but the game plan is to stay clean and in-front, whether or not that happens is the big question but bring on the excitement!”
Channel 7 are scheduled to broadcast highlights of Round 4 action on July. More details after the break.
There’s good news for MINI Challenge fans following the announcement of new television deals with Fox Sports and New Zealand’s TV3. Free to air viewers have not been forgotten, either, and the Channel 7 broadcast schedule has been confirmed for the rest of the year.
Full details after the break.
Last month confirmation came through that the MINI Challenge has been locked in as a support category for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 to be held in October.
With no open wheelers from Indy Car or the scuppered A1GP categories the Gold Coast event offers an all Australian cast. Organisers have modified the well known street circuit reducing it from 4.7km in length down to 2.96km.
Ted Toleman, MINI Challenge Category Manager, says, “The new circuit and great entertainment planned by V8 Supercars is going to make for a fantastic show in October and the category is pleased to be able to support one of the country’s most iconic races.
“We have seen some thrilling MINI Challenge action this year as the category continues to grow and I’m sure the same exciting racing will be on offer when we head to the streets of Surfers Paradise.”
Full press release after the break. The MINI Challenge returns to on track action next weekend for the Dunlop Townsville 400.
Earlier in the month Chris Alajajian and Paul Stokell jetted over to Madrid to represent Australia in the Spanish MINI Challenge. The racing took place at the Jarama circuit and there was a three race format; two sprint races on the Saturday and a 50 minute race on Sunday. The results were encouraging, but ultimately disappointing.
Current Australian MINI Challenge series leader Chris Alajajian managed an impressive fourth place in the first race. In the second race Stokell qualified sixth and despite a good start his car suffered minor damage, including a punctured tyre, after being hit from behind. Time in the pits replacing the tyre was costly and he lost a lap on the leaders and finished in 19th place.
The guys had shown they had the pace to mix it with the front runners, so maybe the Sunday race, which included a compulsory driver change, would bring better luck. Sadly this wasn’t the case.
Stokell started the race from 11th on the grid and was making good progress until he was t-boned by a “kamikaze” move from one of the younger competitors in the field. Worse was to come when Stokell received a black flag costing Team Australia valuable time. Things didn’t improve when the team’s scheduled driver change had to be delayed due a Safety Car period. This left Alajajian with just a few laps of racing and in the end Team Australia came home in 11th place.
Regardless of the misfortune during the racing Ted Toleman, MINI Challenge Australia Category Manager, felt the experience was a positive one and hopes there is more overseas action to come, “Despite mixed results both Paul and Chris did a fantastic job representing Australia in the Spanish version of MINI Challenge racing.
“The assistance and help given to our drivers by MINI Challenge Spain personnel was superb and we thank them for supporting the guys on this great opportunity. The experience gained by both drivers in the left-hand-drive R56 and on a world renowned racetrack is truly invaluable and I look forward to further events overseas.”
MINI Challenge Australia action returns at the Townsville 400 on 9–11 July.