JOIN THE MINI CHALLENGE

Welcome to the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE.

We welcome drivers from novices to highly experienced racers and have a range of classes to help you decide where to enter, depending on your budget and experience.

Over the years, the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE has built a reputation for affordability, fairness and fun and benefits from being the only Championship to enjoy the support of MINI UK and from being televised live on ITV4 as a BTCC Support Series.

Last season the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE continued its history of listening to competitors, with a number of subtle, but important regulation changes to maintain stability and maximise equality; ensuring the best drivers have the opportunity to win.

This year, our Championship Support structure is being enhanced and revamped to deliver an even better experience for competitors.
Dedicated Technical and Sporting Managers are being appointed to provide assistance and guidance to competitors and contribute towards the successful and smooth running of the championship, thus helping us to maintain the highest standard of sporting integrity on and off track.

How to get started

If you’re completely new to Motorsport, take a look at our Start Racing section to find out more about beginning your motorsport adventure. This includes how to get a race licence, motorsport guides and explains the difference between running your own car or as part of a team.

Budgets

Season Entry starts from £15,950 for the Cooper Class but there’s also an option to race on a round by round basis if you’re not sure you want to compete in a full season. The JCW Sport Class starts at £17,995 and the JCW Class starts at £20,050 for the season.

Those prices are based on an early bird discount and exclude VAT.

You’ll also need a car and probably some help from a team. 

Cooper Class cars can be built for as little as £14,000* which includes the cost of the donor car.

*This price includes basic level of preparation and may vary dependent on  the condition of the donor car and final specification. Excludes labour.

JCW Class cars are built from a used Donor car supplied by the customer at a cost of £54,950 + VAT – with Finance available.

For the JCW Class, budgets will be kept down through limits on use of tyres, control parts and repair services for key components including GRP parts.

Teams

We have a number of approved teams that run race cars in the MINI CHALLENGE for various classes. Head over to our Approved Teams page to contact individual teams for more details on costs and availability.

The Cooper Class is the first step on our championship ladder, but often produces the most exciting racing that the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE can offer.

The Cooper Class has made highly successful appearances on the BTCC calendar for a number of seasons, and will return to entertain fans at another three events on the highest stage in UK motorsport during the year ahead.

The entry level Cooper Class car uses a 130bhp 1.6-litre normally aspirated engine, six-speed manual gearbox and Goodyear slick and wet tyres, with the allocation of new tyres controlled throughout the season for cost control and competitive performance purposes.

In the interest of simplicity and keeping control of budgets, the adjustability of the cars is kept to a minimum. Modifications to toe, ride height, the single-way AST control dampers and optional Forge rear camber arms are all that is available, making the Cooper Class the ideal place for drivers to gain experience.

The car is suited to drivers of all ages and experience, whether that be drivers new to car racing, those with some karting  experience, or those who simply want to enjoy the close, fair racing of the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE on a high profile stage, but with a tightly controlled budget.

New for 2024 was the successful introduction of JCW Sport, designed to bridge the gap between the JCW and Cooper classes. Based on the existing F56 JCW, but with a few key changes to aid affordability and create its own performance window, the first season added another element of excitement to the series, with the championship battle going down to the very last race of the season before a winner was crowned.

With the added benefit of being able to convert the car into full JCW spec, JCW Sport provides a viable and tangible route onto the TOCA  package, sharing the same calendar and grid as the JCW in supporting the BTCC at seven events.

The JCW CLASS sits at the top of the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE, offering a specification that is closer to the BTCC cars it shares
a stage with than any other single-make championship in the UK – but at a fraction of the cost.

Goodyear slick tyres, a Damico tuned 2-litre engine, Quaife sequential gearbox, three-way adjustable Nitron dampers and Alcon brakes ensure the JCW Class provides the perfect stepping stone to touring car racing while representing the ‘Best of British’.