Last year MINI made an all-out underdog assault on the famous 24 Hours of Nurburgring last year. While the team came up short (thanks to an overly ambitious BMW) it was an incredible effort that came together very quickly. This year the same Bulldog Racing Team is back with a revised F56 JCW and a famous driver behind the wheel.
This year the team is going back to the more stock JCW form, stripping away much of the GP bodywork in the process. Modifications are mainly focused around getting the car to race spec with safety equipment and technology fitted. Additionally the interior is again completely stripped out and a dedicated suspension and AP braking system replaced the stock units.
The Nürburgring Endurance Series began last weekend with Charlie Cooper (GBR), and Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) behind the wheel in the class VT2-FWD. The four hour race saw the team complete 21 laps with a total of five pit stops required for set-up work. The team finished in 88th place out of 118 drivers in this warm-up race for the season.
In two weeks, the driver duo of Charlie Cooper (GBR) and Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) will compete again for Bulldog Racing at the second race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series on April 1, 2023.
MINI Returns to the Nurburgring With New MINI JCW From Bulldog Racing
The 2023 endurance season at the Nürburgring has started. On Saturday, the newly built MINI John Cooper Works from Bulldog Racing completed its first race kilometers in the “Green Hell”.
The team used the season opener of the Nürburgring Endurance Series as a test under racing conditions to gain important knowledge about the new vehicle.
With the starting number 468 Charlie Cooper (GBR), and Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) started in the new MINI John Cooper Works in the class VT2-FWD. Charlie Cooper (GBR), whose grandfather John Cooper invented the Mini Cooper in 1961, celebrated his race premiere on the Nordschleife and took the opportunity to adjust to the extremely demanding track. He passed his DMSB Permit Nordschleife just the day before in the new MINI John Cooper Works. His fastest lap during the race was a 10:35.194. In a strong starting phase, the MINI John Cooper Works was able to make up many positions and Sebastian Sauerbrei drove his fastest lap in the race with a 10:10.763. In the further stages of the race, which were characterized by many accidents and Code-60 phases, the team focused on set-up work and finished the race in 9th place of 15 starters in its class.
In two weeks, the driver duo of Charlie Cooper (GBR) and Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) will compete again for Bulldog Racing at the second race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series on April 1, 2023.
Keyword: MINI Returns to the Nurburgring With New MINI JCW From Bulldog Racing