This past weekend I was privileged to cheer on the 3 John Cooper Works MINIs from LAP Motorsports in the latest round of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge at Sebring International Raceway. 
LAP Motorsports and MINI USA put on a great hospitality paddock for us MINIacs that attended the race complete with a driver meet and greet before the race and a full lunch during the race.
It was really cool to see some of the techs from MINI dealers across the state be part of the pit crew for the race team during the race. Our very own Greg Brown from Vista MINI was a tire changer for the team had an absolute blast being part of the action!!
The start of the race showed the #37 MINI getting quite aggressive coming to the starting line starting in the 9th position, bumping a Porsche who appeared to miss a shift.
The hot Florida sun definitely did not help the MINIs on power, but they held their own as best as they could on the long 3.7 mile track. The MINIs battled brake fade throughout the race (remember – they are not allowed to use the JCW brakes in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge so they have to use Cooper S calipers and rotors).
At the end of the race, the 37 MINI completely lost all brakes and went boot-first into the wall, sustaining quite a bit of damage that required it to be towed into the paddock.
At the end of the day, the MINIs finished 16th (#73), 17th (#52) and 20th (#37).
Huge thanks to MINI USA and LAP Motorsports for hosting us at the track and providing such a welcoming experience!!
