DAVIS WINS PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP IN A MINI

Woodcliff Lake, NJ,  October 20, 2013. Robbie Davis won the Touring Car B-Spec Championship in the Pirelli World Challenge Championship in his MINI Cooper, run by the MINI of Charleston Racing Team. The American, who since 2007 has lined up in numerous series with a modified MINI Cooper S, produced a courageous performance in his adopted home of Houston. He refused to be denied by a crash and fought back to finish in the points while his closest rivals faltered.

The Houston Grand Prix in the American IndyCars series provided a fitting setting for the finale of the Pirelli World Challenge season. The street circuit in the Texan metropolis is a genuine challenge. The cars brush the concrete walls, meaning drivers cannot afford to make any mistake.

MINI driver Palmer wins both races

Davis discovered for himself just how quickly things can go wrong on the winding circuit. Repair work had to be performed on the track surface overnight, making it extremely dusty and slippery. Robbie spun his MINI Cooper shortly after the start of the race, ending up facing across the track. Fellow title contender Ernie Francis Jr. was unable to avoid the stricken MINI, making contact and then careering into the wall. Retirement for Francis Jr.!

Davis set off in pursuit in his slightly damaged MINI, clocking the fastest lap as he fought back from 19th to finish in the points in eighth place. And MINI had more reason to celebrate: Californian Tyler Palmer crossed the finish line first. 

Robbie Davis started the second 25-minute race from eighth on the grid, and made up one place over the course of the race. Rival Francis Jr. did return to action in a new car, but could only manage eighth behind Robbie. Davis claimed the title finishing 30 points ahead of Joel Lipperini and 37 points ahead of Francis Jr. It has been a successful season for Davis, who won three races, claimed eight podiums and set the fastest race lap on four occasions. And it was to get even better for MINI, with Palmer also winning the second race in Houston in his MINI Cooper.

MINI Motoring Rewards Program

Don’t worry if you don’t have a name as cool as legendary Classic Mini drivers Paddy, Rauno, or Timo. You can still take home cash racing a MINI in amateur or professional competitions through the MINI Motoring Awards Program. It’s just a little extra incentive for MINI owners to get out there and give racing a go. Not that the sheer fun and adrenaline rush of pressing a MINI through a closed course isn’t already enough. But getting your gas money covered never hurts. For more information about the MINI Motoring Rewards Program visit MINIUSA.COM and click on MINI Motorsports.

About MINI in the US

MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC, located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey and includes the marketing and sales organizations for the MINI brand. The MINI USA sales organization is represented in the U.S. through a network of 119 MINI passenger car dealers in 38 states. MINI USA began selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2002 with the introduction of the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtops. Since then, the MINI Brand in the U.S. has grown to encompass a model range of seven unique vehicles.

Journalist notes: Media information about MINI and its products is available to journalists on-line at www.miniusanews.com.
Consumer information about MINI products is available via the internet at: www.MINIUSA.com.

Contact:

Nathalie Bauters
MINI Communications Manager

201-930-3166

nathalie.bauters@miniusa.com

Rob Duda
Peppercomm

908-347-1243

rduda@peppercomm.com