Mini has pulled the wraps off its fastest car
yet. Although power and performance figures are yet to be released, the
second-generation John Cooper Works GP has already posted an 8min 23sec
Nordschleife lap time, 19sec quicker than the original GP, and a mere 6sec off
the pace of the Renaultsport Megane R26.R, a former front-drive lap record
holder.
The new GP continues in the same vein as its
hardcore 2006 forebear, with its two-seat interior, four-spoke alloy wheels and
grey and red colour scheme. It is notably more track-biased than before,
though, with fully adjustable, race-derived suspension(with completely new
springs and dampers compared with a regular JCW), bespoke Kumho tyres and focus
on aerodynamics, with a sealed underbody and carbonfibre rear spoiler helping
create genuine downforce.
The body kit is borrowed from Mini's Challenge
racing car.The new car will use a tuned version of the 1.6-litre turbo four
from current fast Minis, and the Ring time suggests it's likely to
significantly trump the supercharged mk1 GP's 215bhp. Expect closer to
250bhp-and a price tag of around £30,000.
