MINI John Cooper Works Chases Nürburgring 24h Triumph Glory

MINI John Cooper Works heads back to the Nürburgring on purpose, aiming to add another trophy to its cabinet when the 53rd running of the 24 Hours Race roars into life in 2025. Last year’s class-winning partnership with Bulldog Racing showed just how potent the compact contender can be on the 25.378-kilometre labyrinth known as the Green Hell, and the team has spent the winter refining every nut and bolt for the ultimate endurance test against roughly 130 rivals.

This season, the car rolls onto the grid wearing an eye-catching Deus Ex Machina wrap that fuses motorsport intent with artisan flair. Beneath the artwork lie factory-developed John Cooper Works aero parts: a roof-edge spoiler extension, deep front apron, chiselled side skirts, rear winglets and a high-gloss C-pillar trim, all helping the hatch carve clean air while keeping rubber pressed to the asphalt. A bright red tow strap adds a purposeful accent and hints at the punishment the chassis is built to withstand over a full day and night of flat-out running.

Victorious in the SP-3T class in 2024, Bulldog Racing knows the recipe for success on this unforgiving circuit: disciplined tyre strategy, quick driver changes and unflappable concentration through fast-changing weather. Engineers have fine-tuned cooling ducts, brake compounds and suspension geometry, confident the car can lap consistently while shrugging off kerb strikes and brake-neck compressions that have broken bigger machines.

Crowds approaching a quarter of a million are expected to line the forested sweeps and grandstands, cheering as the Union Jack-badged MINI darts through the dusk and emerges at dawn still punching above its weight. Should the little racer survive the closing hours without a hiccup, it could once again roll across the line ahead of far larger machinery, proving that determination, clever engineering and a dash of sporting spirit can conquer the Nürburgring’s relentless carousel.