MINI Challenge John Cooper Works wows MINI enthusiasts at the 2016 SA Festival of Motoring.

Midrand, South Africa.   MINI enthusiasts who attended the 2016 SA Festival of Motoring last week, were treated to a once in a life time experience around the newly refurbished Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. As part of their line-up at the festival, MINI South Africa hosted MINI UK Ambassador and 2015 MINI Challenge champion, Charlie Butler- Henderson. Butler-Henderson entertained local motoring media, influencers and MINI customers with taxi rides (hot laps) around the track in a MINI Challenge John Cooper Works race car built especially for the Challenge championship.

Butler-Henderson’s visit highlighted and showcased MINI’s steep racing heritage as well as the dynamic go-kart ability of the new generation of MINI John Cooper Works Hatch. Butler-Henderson, a well-known figure on the British racing circuit delighted audiences in the 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder spark ignition engine MINI Challenge, which generated up to 190 kW (20 kW more than a regular MINI John Cooper Works Hatch).

In the UK, MINI continues its racing heritage in the MINI Challenge, a race championship specifically created for MINI’s that has been running since 2002. The multi-class structure enables drivers with varying degrees of experience and budget to participate. MINI Challenge recently announced that it will join the British GT Championship for the first time in 2017, cementing its place as one of Europe’s fastest-growing single-make racing championship. Butler Henderson, first won the MINI Challenge in 2015 and currently holds first place in the 2016 points log.

Since 2008, 59 885 MINI John Cooper Works vehicles across the MINI model range have been sold globally. The MINI John Cooper Works Hatch, which to date has sold 30, 976, continues to be the most popular model.

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For more information visit www.mini.co.za

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For any questions on this press release, please contact BMW South Africa’s Group Communications Division as follows:

Thando Pato

Manager: Product Communications (MINI, BMW i and BMW Motorrad)

BMW Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Email: thando.pato@bmw.co.za

Tel: +27-12-522-2070

Mobile: +27-72-232-5624

The BMW Group

With its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of cars and motorcycles and provider of premium financing and mobility services. It operates internationally with 30 production and assembly plants in 14 countries and a global sales network represented in more than 140 countries.

 During the financial year 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and some 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. Group profit before tax reached € 9.22 billion on revenues totalling € 92.18 billion € 92.18 billion. At 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of 122,244 employees.

 Long-term thinking and responsible action have long been the foundation of the BMW Group’s success. Ecological and social sustainability along the entire value-added chain, full responsibility for our products and an unequivocal commitment to preserving resources are prime objectives firmly embedded in our corporate strategy.

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