So.. Bored in Atlanta in 2 weeks?

Mini is using the power of the Internet to challenge Porsche to a race, pitting their Mini Cooper S against Porsche's superior 911 Carrera S two weeks from today at Road Atlanta. Surprisingly, Porsche is actually considering it. Mini's betting on its 172 hp Cooper S to whoop the 385 hp Porsche 911 and are challenging them via a Facebook campaign, a full page ad in the New York Times and the video below. Mini USA President Jim McDowell — formerly of Porsche — wants Porsche USA president Detlev von Platen to meet him at Road Atlanta (convenient to Porsche's Georgia HQ) on June 21st with the drivers of their choice. Should Porsche win, McDowell will sport a shirt saying the Porsche is faster than the Mini. McDowell even throws in a Porsche-gets-bald-guys-laid joke. Though the Mini likely doesn't have a chance, they've got nothing to lose by having themselves compared to the 911. Automakers often challenge each other to one-on-ones, but their competitors usually refuse either because they know they'll be defeated or they don't like the brand association. So no matter what happens, the company organizing it usually wins. For their part, Porsche is at least considering taking Mini up on its offer. "Porsche has the most racing victories of any manufacturer out there — 28,000 and counting — maybe we should go for 28,001," Steve Janisse, Porsche's Media Relations Manager, told Jalopnik. "We just need to see what they're up to." We encourage Porsche to take up the offer and smoke the crap out of them because, as long as the race isn't through the sewers of Turin or around the world's tiniest autocross, they've got the edge.

http://bg-video.cp.motionbox.com/motionboxons/flash/VideoPlayer.swf?type=sd&video_uid=4c98ddbb1611ecc6c4&security_token=prod3.e2aab1afa88fd4ab&/=

Looks like im gonna have to go watch this!

Sounds like a good excuse to take a day off in Braselton.

Yeah, I may have to go. That would be a ton of fun to see.

$10 says they're aiming to race on the car control/auto-x course at the turn 6/7 infield.

nderwater wrote: $10 says they're aiming to race on the car control/auto-x course at the turn 6/7 infield.

Yeah in that case the Mini would probably have the edge

Alright, I'm going to be there this evening. Anyone else? I'll be in an orange AutoTrader.com Chevy HHR.

I look like this:

In reply to DukeOfUndersteer:

Great marketing. Hats off to Mini/BMW.

HAHAHAHA!!!! ITS ON THE KART TRACK!!! Nderwater, you get 10 dollars.

http://jalopnik.com/5568806/bait-and-switch-badvertising-ruined-mini-vs-porsche

I hope to god Hyundai manages to pull one out of their ass and stomp mini all around the go-kart course.

This is so dumb.

Told ya.

Mini had a bunch of girls at Mid Ohio on Sunday waling around with big signs that had the pic at the start of this thread and where handing out some kind of flyers. No one stoped to give me one, I assume it was because I had my two young boys with me and they were dressed in very little.

Wait... now i'm confused.

So who is actually showing up? Mini and Hyundai?

I dunno... but im going tonight!

Somebody with a well setup 914 pleeeese go dressed up as a Porsche factory rep. Pleeese.

Am I wrong for wanting to shoot a Youtube vid with my ms3, and then challenge Mini to a race at Brainerd, and then have it be a drag race?

Did anybody go? I want details.

From what i understand the Porsche put 2 seconds on the Mini even though it was a go-kart course?

I went. Yeah, the Porsche walked the Mini. Mini still put on a great event and I even ran three laps of Road Atlanta in a company car. I forgot how scary turn 12 can be, and even more so in an ill-handling pig.

Here's a video of the decisive runs:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=418153597744

Mini gets in another "cheap" shot at the end, too.

Ah! "cheap" shot.

I applaud both companies for doing something cool.

Here is my write-up of the event:

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/car-article/Report%3A+Mini+vs+Porsche+at+Road+Atlanta-67623.xhtml

$38,000 a second? We've had Governors spend more than that on prostitutes.

Damn, if I had known all that was to transpire (but mostly the RA lap, chaperoned or not) I would've taken that day off.