In 2022, MINI Took a Radical JCW GP to the Nürburgring 24—Here’s What Happened

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The JCW GP is the pinnacle of performance for the MINI brand. But until 2022, there had never been a factory-backed effort to take it racing. That changed when MINI partnered with Bulldog Racing and brought a radically modified JCW GP to the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours. That gritty debut is now the stuff of legend — here’s the story.

The car Bulldog Racing prepped was no ordinary GP. With race-spec suspension, full FIA safety equipment, and aggressive aero that looked like it had escaped from a touring car fever dream, it turned heads long before it ever turned a wheel in anger. We would know — MotoringFile was embedded with the team that year and saw firsthand how the red MINI quickly became a fan favorite.

The Build-Up: Turning a Road Car Into a Nürburgring Fighter

The plan was ambitious: take MINI’s most hardcore production car — the GP — and transform it into a legitimate endurance racer. We covered the build-up as the car received KW competition suspension, BMW M brakes, full telemetry, and a serious round of weight reduction. Its massive wing, slammed stance, and stripped interior made it look like MINI had gone full DTM — and it wasn’t just for show. The adjustable wing, paired with a fully covered underbody and aggressive rear diffuser, created genuine downforce — a rarity for a MINI, and absolutely critical at the ’Ring.

The Race: Momentum, Mayhem, and a BMW

The MINI took the green flag with poise, mixing it up in traffic and winning over fans with its tenacity. Day 2 coverage showed steady progress and a car that could take the punishment of the Nordschleife with surprising grace.

But then came the twist. Over the course of the race, the Bulldog MINI was hit three times (twice by the same BMW) as it sliced its way through traffic in the dark. The 3rd hit dealt terminal damage. By Hour 17, the MINI was out. No engine failure. No driver error. Just bad luck and bent metal.

The Bigger Picture: A Stepping Stone to Victory

Despite the early exit, the 2022 effort was a critical learning experience. As we wrote at the time, MINI wasn’t just showing up—they were building something. That foundation paid off with a second-place class finish in 2023, followed by a class victory in 2024. Bulldog Racing and MINI had gone from dark horses to serious contenders.

Capturing the Madness: From the Pits to the Party

The Nurburgring 24 Hours isn’t just a race but an event – almost a lifestyle for some. Being embedded with the team gave us a front-row seat to the raw intensity of endurance racing and the deep passion behind MINI’s motorsport push. So we walked into the forests and met the fans, drank some beer and jammed to the late night dance parties. Despite having attended our fair share of amazing racing experiences from F1 to IMSA, nothing comes close to this race and the atmosphere it creates.

The 2022 Bulldog Racing MINI JCW GP didn’t finish the race—but it absolutely mattered. It marked MINI’s return to serious endurance racing and kicked off a comeback arc that would lead to class success just two years later. In true MINI fashion, it wasn’t the size of the car—it was the size of the fight.

MINI’s History at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring

MINI has a notable history at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, with several participations over the years:

• 2008: Schirra Motoring entered a BMW Mini Cooper S in the SP3T class, completing 115 laps.  
• 2011: MINI Motorsport fielded a BMW Mini Cooper JCW in the SP3T class, finishing with 108 laps.  
• 2012: Four private teams entered a total of five MINIs in the race, showcasing the brand’s continued presence in endurance racing.  
• 2014: A BMW Mini JCW participated in the SP2T class, completing 122 laps.  
• 2022: After a ten-year hiatus, MINI returned with Bulldog Racing’s entry of a modified JCW GP. Despite a strong performance, the car was forced to retire after being hit twice by the same BMW during the race.  
• 2023: Bulldog Racing entered the #126 MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition in the VT2 class. The car completed 114 laps and finished 2nd in class, with a driver lineup including Charlie Cooper, Sebastian Sauerbrei, Christoph Kragenings, and Michael Mönch.
• 2024: Bulldog Racing achieved a class victory in the SP3T category with the #317 MINI John Cooper Works Pro, driven by Markus Fischer, Charlie Cooper, Christoph Kragenings, and Sebastian Sauerbrei. Additionally, the #474 MINI JCW secured third place in the VT2 class.  

The post In 2022, MINI Took a Radical JCW GP to the Nürburgring 24—Here’s What Happened appeared first on MotoringFile.

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