Double Victory For Jeroen Bleekemolen @ The MINI Challenge In Zandvoort (NL)

MINI Press Release
Munich/Amsterdam. Putting in a perfect performance, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Aerdenhout/NL, Team ProSieben) rounded off his guest appearance in the MINI CHALLENGE being held this weekend as part of the MINI United Festival in Zandvoort (NL). After his win in yesterday’s race, the local Dutch hero and former DTM pro came out top in today’s heat too. “Being part of the MINI CHALLENGE has been a great experience. It was amazing fun,” said the victor. “To win today was enormously difficult. I had to fight forward five places,” Bleekemolen said – he had started in sixth place.

MINI Challenge

Alexander Burgstaller (Munich, MINI Germany) was one of those Bleekemolen overtook. The MINI CHALLENGE ambassador was happy enough with second place as he crossed the line, though. “My first podium position of the season – I hope to go on doing more of the same,” said Burgstaller, who won the MINI CHALLENGE in 2004.

Continue reading Double Victory For Jeroen Bleekemolen @ The MINI Challenge In Zandvoort (NL)

Jeroen Bleekemolen Wins In Zandvoort (NL)

MINI Press Release
Munich/Amsterdam. Just a few hours after Jeroen Bleekemolen (Aerdenhout/NL, Team ProSieben) gained pole position in the qualifying in Zandvoort (NL), the local Dutch hero had reason to celebrate yet again: the former DTM pro put in a perfect start-to-finish lead in the first MINI CHALLENGE race of his life! “I’m really pleased. Especially because it was such hard work to defend my position – that makes winning so much more significant,” said Bleekemolen after the race.

MINI Challenge

During the 30-minute race held as part of the MINI United Festival, only Ben Spouse (Munich, Schirra motoring) managed to keep a tail on the flying Dutchman. “I was always hot on Jeroen’s heels, but I just couldn’t manage the crucial attack,” said the Englishman. Spouse had put in the second-best time in the qualifying and explained afterwards why he had been so fast: “The undulating and winding profile of the race track is well suited to my very soft driving style. Here in Zandvoort you sense the typical MINI go-kart feeling much more than elsewhere.”

Continue reading Jeroen Bleekemolen Wins In Zandvoort (NL)

ALTA Performance Opens New Headquarters

Just got word that ALTA is moving into some new digs, complete with a dyno tuning facility. Very cool!

ALTA

The ALTA Performance Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of its new headquarters in Hillsboro, OR. The 30,000 sqft building, which is adjacent to Intelísô Hillsboro campus, will accommodate all of ALTAís manufacturing, assembly and sales staff as well as a boutique style outlet & dyno tuning facilities.

In a statement on the completion of acquisition of the Headquarters building,

ALTAís C.E.O. Adam Taft said:

“I am extremely pleased to make this step forward for our company. The new facility will enable us to gather all of our staff, machinery and vehicles into one building as well as have an extraordinary show room. We finally have a gathering place for like minded automotive enthusiasts.î

ALTA HQ.
3111 N.E. Shute Rd. Hillsboro Oregon 97124

Our phone numbers will remain unchanged

Phone 1-503-222-6464
Phone 1-503-643-4677
Fax 1-503-644-9857

ALTA

[ ALTA MINI Performance ]

Official MINI Clubman Photos Leaked

Take a look at the following link for the first real photos of the MINI Clubman without any tape hiding details of the car. I have to say – the back end of the car is not bad. I like it much better than the R56 back end actually. The split exhaust looks very sharp. The only thing I am not so sure about is the silver down the sides of the back end. I wonder if you will be able to get that part of the car in body color, while still being able to get a contrasting roof. We will have to wait and see.

[ MINI Clubman Photos @ Carscoop ]

R56 MINI Challenge Series Announced In Australia

According to Fullboost, it looks like the R56 will be making its debut in the Australian MINI Challenge in 2008.

Testosterone levels will reach critical as MINI Challenge visits eight of the most exciting tracks across all Australian States and Territories.

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport has given the go-ahead for the MINI Challenge one make series to kick off in Australia in 2008, when the brand new R56 generation MINI Challenge race cars will have their international motorsport debut.

The MINI Challenge category manager is now in discussion with V8 Supercars Australia with a view to the Series running on the V8 Supercars calendar.

Australiaís MINI Challenge cars will be built to a global racing specification in Germany in late 2007 and will feature a fully integrated roll-cage, race seat, and FIA-spec safety equipment.

Powering each MINI Challenge racer is an identical highly-charged twin scroll turbocharged 1.6-litre MINI engine, blessed with the very latest John Cooper Works magic.

[ Australian MINI Challenge @ Fullboost ]

Game: Mini Nitros

Looking for some online Mini Cooper racing fun to pass the time? Check out this flash-based racing game called Mini Nitros:

Drive your customizable Mini Cooper on the rough country lanes, use Nitro boosts and try to complete all the tracks in the fastest time possible…. Take part in a challenging racing competition in the country side where you’ve to drive a Mini Cooper through various tracks and try to reach the finish line in the fastest time possible. You can activate Nitro to boost your speed on long straight road segments. To begin with, select your car and tune it up by adjusting the specifications to the desired level. You can Left Click and Drag the yellow squares from a feature and place it in any other feature to tune up your car for the challenge ahead. Finally select the track and get ready to race. Avoid hitting the sides of the road, as it will slow you down. If you succeed in completing all the tracks then submit your score to the high score list. Have fun with mini nitros!

[ Mini Nitros ]

MINI Clubman Spotted at Zandvoort (Hmmm…)

Those attending MINI United may just get the first look at the new MINI Clubman. According to MINI2.com, Autovisie.nl snapped some great shots of a fleet of MINI Clubman at Zandvoort where MINI United is set to take place:

Autovisie have some great shots of the MINI Clubman on the website, taken at the Zandvoort Circuit in the Netherlands where, apparently, MINI employees were getting familiar with the ìOther MINIî ahead of itís full launch to the media and public later this year.

Zandvoort was also the location of the Driving Dynamics Workshop held by MINI in July last year for a select group of Motoring Journalists where MINI2 took footage for several photo and video exclusives of the second generation MINI.

This weekend Zandvoort also plays host to MINI United, however according to Autovisie the cars where taken back to Munich on a trailer when play time was over. Full report and photographs are available on the Autovisie website here.

Now how much you want to bet they left one or two Clubman’s around Zandvoort for some MINI United happenings?? Hmmm…

[ MINI2.com ]
[ Autovisie.nl ]

MC2 Magazine At MINI United

Hey everyone, get ready for Zandvoort and MINI United this weekend! Several weeks ago while preparing our Rob Marshall for his editorial coverage of MINI United we had to talk with MINI United staff in Munich. Well, one conversation led to another that week and we rented a 5×5 meter tent at MINI United complete with some furniture and tables for our T-shirts and magazines. We will have ourselves a party with about 10,000 other MINIacs at Zandvoort Raceway, outside of Amsterdam, Holland!

We have all our ducks in a row, Rob and his buddy Neil are on their way Thursday, and our online editor, Peter DuPre’s, working behind the website’s homepage to take the exclusive editorials Rob will send several times this weekend, put them into our website, and tell everyone in photos and insights about who, what and why it is this is the party of the year for MINI owners.

So, click onto www.mc2magazine.com any time starting Thursday afternoon PST and read what our guys at MINI United are up to with insights into MINI owners from lands far away. It’s required reading, as we might one day have a party in the USA like it!

[ MC2Magazine.com ]