Mini JCW GP: What’s it like to track the most po...

Why a Mini John Cooper Works GP?

Mira Knava. Photograph by J.A. Ackley

To know that attraction, contemplate that each Mira and Romana come from a background with a unique form of horsepower–precise horses. Mira participated in horse racing, going from a jockey to a coach, whereas Romana did equestrian.

“I had a extremely unhealthy accident with my horse,” Romana explains. “The physician stated I couldn’t trip anymore. I wanted to search out one other adrenaline [rush].”

“She at all times had a ardour for automobiles,” Mira provides. “I used to be like, ‘Okay, I like automobiles,’ however she had ardour for automobiles–muscle automobiles, racing, System 1, rally. So, I stated, ‘Let’s purchase some enjoyable automobiles.’ Romana at all times needed to have a Mini Cooper due to ‘The Italian Job.’”

Mira first discovered a extra typical Mini for Romana.

“We had a really sluggish Mini,” Romana recollects. “I prefer to drive quick. He discovered the GP on-line, and it was going to be the quickest Mini ever. It obtained my consideration.”

When you noticed a Mini zipping by in Chicago, it could have been Romana.

“I believed it was a System 1 automobile the primary time I took it to work,” Romana calls. “It was my every day driver.”

A pal of a pal, maybe properly, recommended to Romana that she ought to monitor it. “Again then, we thought you may not go on the monitor except you’re an expert race automobile driver,” Romana notes. “[He said,] ‘No, you are able to do it. I’ll let you know how. Go to SCCA.’ I took [a driving school]. I began passing Porsches, Mustangs. Oh my gosh, I used to be like, ‘This was the very best automobile ever.’ That was three years in the past, and the dependancy was fashioned.’”

To not be outdone, Mira looked for a Mini GP for himself and obtained one, too. Now you’ll find the couple at time trial occasions with their 2021 Mini GPs.

Photograph by Tradd’s Images/Racing for ALS.

Few Issues to Mod

Photograph by Tradd’s Images/Racing for ALS.

Mira and Romana compete with comparatively inventory GPs. The got here from the manufacturing unit with efficiency in thoughts, so the one mods they made concerned to the brakes, consumption and exhaust.

“A variety of instances, below braking via the turns, my again wheel is up within the air,” Mira says. The GP got here with Brembo four-piston calipers, 15-inch rotors and Brembo road pads. They’d a tough time discovering an organization to construct a brake package deal that also stays inside the guidelines of SCCA’s Sport 4 Time Trial class.

Photograph by J.A. Ackley

Finally, an Italian firm, Tarox, got here via. Tarox upgraded them to eight-piston alloy calipers, F2000 grooved discs, Competizione brake pads, chrome steel strains and high-performance fluid. They retained the inventory Brembo two-piston calipers within the rear.

Photograph by J.A. Ackley

The U.Okay.-based Eventuri crafted the custom-made consumption. “They’d simply designed a brand-new consumption for the C8 Corvette,” Mira says. “Actual carbon fiber. The craftsmanship was unbelievable. I approached them and stated, ‘I like your work, are you able to do one thing for a Mini?’ They advised me that they had a prototype for a Mini, however they wanted to get approval.”

Eventuri wanted to move European Union laws and likewise receive approval from Mini to place the half into manufacturing, in keeping with Mira. As soon as the corporate obtained the okay, Mira and Romana outfitted their Minis with Eventuri intakes. In accordance with Eventuri, the system presents “decrease consumption temperatures than the inventory airbox and avoids warmth soak, which is a typical subject particularly on increased powered Minis.”

The Bluetooth-enabled controller for the JCW Professional exhaust. Photograph by J.A. Ackley

Lastly, the exhaust. Mira and Romana didn’t dig the inventory setup. Too quiet.

They approached Mini, which provided them a JCW Professional exhaust package. It has two modes, managed by a Bluetooth distant, one for the monitor and one for the road. Mira definitely enjoys sound from the monitor model.

Okay, So What’s It Prefer to Drive One?

A front-wheel-drive automobile with loads of energy and torque? Sure, that creates a recipe for one main subject.

“The largest drawback you face with this automobile is torque steer,” Mira says. “You must be mild. When you push too quickly, it’s going to spin the wheels.”

General, Mira and Romana just like the strengths of the front-wheel-drive setup. “You don’t face oversteer a lot, however understeer, sure, it sucks,” Romana admits. “With a front-wheel-drive automobile, it doesn’t flip the best way you need, however with an understeer automobile, you may cease after which simply hold going. It’s extra forgiving.”

Photograph by J.A. Ackley

The GP comes with two modes: Sport and GP. “We now have it on monitor in GP mode, however simply the primary stage,” Mira says. “The primary stage will rev your engine increased. The second will flip your nannies off. We nonetheless hold the nannies on.”

And, sure, there’s no third pedal with the GP. “It’s an eight-speed automated,” Mira notes. “That’s what lots of people complain about–you’ve misplaced engagement with the automobile–however I don’t. At Street America, we’re doing 141 mph on the straightaways, and also you assume you’ve got time, with the torque steer, to take your palms off the wheel altering your gear, and again on? No thanks. I’m pleased I can have each palms on the steering wheel.”

Photograph by J.A. Ackley

Entrance-wheel-drive? Computerized? Positive, these features may be a turn-off to some. However mix the 300-plus horsepower with the renown go-kart-like dealing with of a Mini, and it’s straightforward to see why Mira and Romana go away the monitor with smiles.

Mira Knava (68) and Romana Smela (44) through the SCCA Time Trials Nationals at NCM Motorsports Park. Photograph by Tradd’s Images/Racing for ALS.