MANNPOWER MOTORSPORT ADDS JCW ENTRY TO COOPER PROGRAMME

Mannpower Motorsport will expand its involvement in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE in 2025 after confirming plans to enter the headline JCW category for the first time.

The Norfolk-based team has been part of the MINI CHALLENGE family since 2019, initially competing in the Cooper Am category before joining the combined Cooper grid the following year.

Owned by experienced race engineer James Manning, Mannpower Motorsport has thus far run a single car in the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, which has been campaigned by his father Paul.

The team had hoped to expand into the JCW class last year before delaying its plans, but has now agreed a deal with a soon-to-be-named rising star that will see it compete in the premier category for the first time.

“As a team we are very excited to announce that we will now be joining the JCW category for the first time in 2025,” James Manning said.

“It has always been our plan to one day make this move and after seven years of competing with the Coopers, it was the natural progression for us to step up. We are hugely excited about the prospect of working with a very promising young driver as part of the programme, and can’t wait to get down to business.

“Competing in both classes means a busy year lies ahead and it will be a the start of a new chapter for Mannpower Motorsport when we line up on the JCW grid for the first time at Donington Park in late April.”

The JCW programme will run alongside a continued presence on the Cooper grid, where Manning Sr will head into the new campaign looking to challenge for the Directors Cup.

Manning went close to class honours last season having held the championship lead going into the Brands Hatch season finale, where an unfortunate incident in the opening race of the weekend brought his title bid to an end.

With six seasons in the series under his belt, Manning will be one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, and goes into 2025 targeting his best year to date in arguably the most competitive one-make class in the UK

“I’m pleased to be entering my seventh season in the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, which continues to be a great place to go out and race,” he said. “I think it offers some of the best door-to-door racing there is, which is why it’s so popular with fans both trackside and watching at home on TV.

“The Cooper class has changed a lot since my debut back in 2019 and every season, there is a new crop of hungry young drivers who are looking to gain experience before moving on to the JCW class or into touring cars.

“I’ll be giving my all as usual to take the fight to them this season, and hopefully we can make a few visits onto the podium.”

Mannpower Motorsport will also continue to work alongside Ashley Gregory Racing in the Cooper paddock by providing the independent team with awning space, with the possibility of agreeing similar deals with other outfits for 2025.