MINI Officially Commits to Full 2026 ARA Rally Season with Two Factory-Backed Cars

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It’s official – MINI is back in rally. For months we’ve been circling this story, first when we broke the news last fall that MINI was “rally curious”, and then again just a few days ago when we confirmed the full-season push was imminent. Now, MINI has finally made it official: the brand is stepping into a factory-backed, full-season campaign in the 2026 American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship.

Running under the banner The John Cooper Works Race Team, MINI USA and LAP Motorsports will campaign two rally-prepped machines, a MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 and the 2-door MINI Cooper S, across the ARA’s challenging national calendar. The season kicks off this weekend, February 6-7, 2026, at the storied Sno*Drift Rally in Atlanta, Michigan, marking a genuine revival of the brand’s legendary rallying DNA.

From Teaser to Full-Blown Program

What began as an exploratory regional effort in 2025, where lightly modified Cooper and Countryman cars gave fans a first look at MINI’s rally potential in the U.S., has now matured into a strategic motorsport commitment by MINI USA and its long-time partner LAP Motorsports. This isn’t a marketing cameo or a museum piece in motion, it’s a national championship campaign with serious intent and competition machinery built to finish every stage and score real results.

Kate Alini, MINI USA’s Head of Marketing, Product, and Strategy, stated that after successful regional outings and early fan enthusiasm, MINI was ready to “jump in with a full season commitment” and reconnect the brand with its iconic rally roots.

Cars That Stay True to MINI’s Character

The rally cars retain much of their factory character, with modifications focused on safety and compliance with ARA class rules rather than bespoke performance parts. That means what you see is what MINI built: chassis balance, torque delivery, and pure handling prowess, now unleashed on snow, gravel, and forest stages.

• John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 — Competing in the Limited 4 Wheel Drive class (L4WD), this is the newest incarnation of MINI’s compact SUV with all-road capabilities that should thrive on mixed surface stages.
• MINI Cooper S 2-Door — The classic short-wheelbase performer enters the Open 2 Wheel Drive class (O2WD), playing to its nimble chassis and go-kart-like agility.

The result should be an engaging contrast, the rugged, planted All4 Countryman versus the lithe, tossable Cooper S, both rooted in the brand’s performance mantra.

Dealers on the Road and in the Pits

One unique twist in this program is the involvement of MINI dealer technicians as part of the rally crew at select events. Top performers from the dealer network will be invited to join LAP’s support team at races throughout the season, a real hands-on extension of the brand’s performance culture and a reward for the passionate professionals who keep MINIs going on the street and now in competition.

A Rally Heritage Reborn

MINI’s rally history is the stuff of folklore. In the 1960s, the original Mini Cooper S rewrote the rulebook, taking multiple Monte Carlo Rally victories against bigger, more powerful rivals. That heritage informs this modern effort, which recalls not only classic European forests but decades of competition spirit that has defined the brand.

With this announcement, MINI’s presence in rallying returns in a way that respects that legacy while also pushing the brand into fresh, competitive territory, one that extends beyond strategy presentations into real gravel, snow, and dirt.

The Rally Calendar

The 2026 ARA season stretches from February through October and includes classic events across the United States. Opening with Sno*Drift, a winter stage rally where cars race on snow and ice-covered forest roads, the calendar promises a gauntlet of conditions that will test drivers, cars, crews, and strategy alike. Here’s the full rundown:

• Sno*Drift Rally  February 6-7, 2026, Atlanta, Michigan
• Rally in the 100 Acre Wood March 13-14, 2026, Salem/Potosi, Missouri
• Olympus Rally April 17-19, 2026, Shelton, Washington
• Southern Ohio Forest Rally June 11-13, 2026, Chillicothe, Ohio
• Rally Colorado July 18-19, 2026, Rangely, Colorado
• Ojibwe Forests Rally August 27-29, 2026, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
• Overmountain Rally Tennessee September 18-19, 2026, Newport, Tennessee
• Lake Superior Performance Rally October 9-10, 2026, Marquette, Michigan

This commitment from MINI USA and LAP Motorsports may well signal a broader shift in how manufacturers view American rallying, from a grassroots passion to a platform worthy of sustained factory support. And it’s perfect timing as the WRC is officially exploring a rally in the US as we speak.

Stay tuned here at MotoringFile as the season unfolds, the team logs miles, and MINI’s rally story continues to evolve.

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