MINI John Cooper Works Coupe Endurance at Nurburgring 24 Hours +video

MINI John Cooper Works Coupe Endurance- off to the Nurburgring

It did take a while to drag the MINI Coupe – screaming and kicking – in to the limelight. Too shy to arrive fully formed, MINI revealed the Coupe at the start of the month with a modesty blanket of black and white swirls over its money shot – the helmet roof and proper little boot.

But it took just two weeks for the new MINI Coupe to pluck up the courage to strut its stuff undisguised, and we were treated to a photo avalanche to celebrate its arrival. And now, just days later, we get the Mini John Cooper Works Coupe Endurance. Catchy little name.

This is MINI going back to the future and putting the MINI Coupe on track. Not just any track, but the ‘Green Hell’ – the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit – for this weekend’s Nurburgring 24 Hours.

To cope with the stresses and strains of the ‘Ring, the MINI JCW Coupe Endurance gets a bit of tweaking and fettling. The engine gets a boost with a twin-scroll turbo boosting power up to 250bhp and torque to 243lb/ft.

The MINI gets stiff race suspension with adjustable dampers, scaffolding gets fitted to the interior which also gets a racing seat with 6-point ‘belts and a HANS (Head And Neck Support) system, and there’s Race ABC from the MINI Challenge.

The sight of a MIN I Coupe pounding round the Nurburgring this weekend should raise a smile or two. And engender a sale or two as well.

Which is pretty much the point.

(11 photos – click any thumbnail to see the gallery)

By Cars UK