Mini JCW GP: What’s it like to track the most powerful Mini made?

The Mini John Cooper Works GP. The most powerful Mini to come from the factory. The turbocharged inline-four makes 301 horsepower and 332 lb.-ft. of torque.

But is it fast?

A GP turned a Nürburgring lap in just under 8 minutes, a 7:56.69 to be exact, faster than a C6 Corvette and a Dodge Viper SRT-10.

But is it fun? …

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Small typo in the article, top speed in the front straight at Road America is 141 MPH, not 114.

I know because I struggle to keep up with those :) 

Chatted with the owner of one of these about his GP. It looks quite fetching in-person, and sounds like a hoot to boot. 

jcahuzac said:

Small typo in the article, top speed in the front straight at Road America is 141 MPH, not 114.

I know because I struggle to keep up with those :) 

Indeed. It's 141 mph! These Minis really fly, don't they?

Not to be Mr. Buzzkill but these two were running in Sport all this past season.  When they should have been in Tuner because of the caliper upgrade.  FWIW

Values aren't as crazy as I would have thought, at least based on a few recent Bring a Trailer sales:

• 19k-Mile 2013 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP - Sold for $24,000 on 11/7/24
• 23k-Mile 2013 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP - Sold for $26,750 on 4/16/24
• 2021 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP - Sold for $38,500 on 2/9/24
• 2021 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP - Bid to $31,250 on 2/17/24

In reply to turboshadow :

Feels like an amateur mistake to miss that. It's a very obvious tuner mod.

I owned a Clubman JCW with the same drivetrain (+AWD) and I found it to be so competent it was boring.  It was fast but didn't feel fast.  It had grip until it understeered (the only option).  It was the only car that I regularly bounced off the rev limiter because I couldn't hear the exhaust in loud mode with the windows down and a helmet on.  I never took it on a full track day.  I probably should have done that.

I bet losing 400lbs, losing the rear wheel drive, and adding some lift off oversteer would have made it into a much more exciting car.

The early GPs are true collector cars these days.  They are a lot closer to the normal Cooper S though.  They had maybe a 20hp bump and some light weight pieces.  It was nothing compared to the 100hp bump for the 2021 GP.

I always enjoy seeing Mini's on track, both vintage and new.  Those little non-aerodynamic bricks on wheels always seem to make me smile.