Straightline

One look at the wildly cambered front wheels and we knew the Mini John Cooper Works Challenge was a real-deal racecar. Intended to compete in the Mini Challenge racing series in 2008, the JCWC is the racecar based on the latest Mini Cooper S.

Inhabitants of the U.S. may not be aware of Mini Challenge. It is a spec series contested in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Austria, and there's another series held in Australia.

Other manufacturers outside of Mini will be competing in the Mini Challenge series in 2008, so the added torque of the Cooper S's turbo engine was an obvious plus. Torque jumps 15 lb-ft to 192 lb-ft, and the overboost function provides a momentary burst to 206 lb-ft. Significantly, the JCWC introduces a limited-slip differential to the racecars for the first time.

Power output remains the same as previous Challenge racecars at 210 hp. With 66 fewer pounds to deal with compared to the previous racecars, acceleration will be brisk.

There are new aero bits, a fully adjustable suspension, Recaro seats and a comprehensive roll cage. With the JCWC, Mini Challenge is poised to become an even quicker motorsports series. -- Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor, Inside Line