Kriminy Eddie, we're typing the same thought at the same time. Too funny.

 

Great Minds!

CAR AND DRIVER was none too kind to the JCW when they did the Lightening Lap test at VIR (https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...-2015-feature/). But I think as we all know the JCW is somewhat ill equipped to be run on the track as it is from the factory; poor choice in tires in particular, and probably somewhat soft dampening.

So a real test on the track of the GP would be welcomed.

 

Well after 170 ish miles I can honestly say I am impressed, very impressed.

Clearly I haven’t driven it hard or above 4000 rpm, but short shifting with about 1/2 throttle it is very fast. Overtakes are a breeze rinding a wave or torque and clicking another gear at 4000, next wave and GO! To me the seats are much harder than either my R53 or R56 fJCW, not sure if thats the same as the F56 JCW? Suspension is hard around town and yes you can feel every stone in the road, however when pressing on in the twisties grip seems endless and yet to discover understeer only more grip and turn in. I had reservations with digital dash, I can say I’m sold, it’s great. I’m sure someone will code it to customise the font soon enough if that’s your thing. The brakes great and anchor like coupled with downshifts. All in all I’m mighty impressed, it’s everything I was hoping for, no sport button is great as it’s just ready at any time.oh and so far every hot start has been greeted with a nice couple of pops from the exhaust, yes it’s a little muted with that bloody opf thing but my good lady can here me coming home so it’s not that quiet. I’m no track day expert, done a couple of bike track days on an R1, won driver of the day in a formula Ford day and rider of the day on.a Ducati experience but I genuinely believe it will be a weapon on the track and far exceed most drivers ability’s.

A couple of oh I wasn’t ready for that
40 litre fuel tank, when did MINI change that, sub 200 miles refills are clearly on the cards. Yes I am aware it’s best part a race car on the road but I haven’t seen it mentioned before so thought it worth a note?
Those rear arches really do collect gravel at an alarming rate, I can see issues ahead, Yes you are about to purchase the fastest road sweeper on the earth.
I’m surprised how fast it is even after a 48 hour test drive with the 306bhp JCW Countryman.

I will be very surprised if anybody is disappointed after purchase.

 

Great report!

I suspect what you are feeling when you say it is faster than the Countryman you had for a while is the difference in weight. Acceleration is a function of weight, give the same power and the GP is lighter so the acceleration should be quicker. When I go to the track it is amazing how much different and faster the car feels after the instructor gets out...

The ride sounds to be a bit like my JCW with the JCW Pro coilovers (and the run flat tires). And the seats sound like they are the same as my JCW seats; very firm, too. I have had to “soften” them up a little for general riding. But, for cornering they are the best MINI seat yet.

Oh - What tires did it come with? It seems there is maybe more than one brand/model they are putting on them.

 

On the fuel tank capacity. Not much is it?

I've 43.9 liters in my car, and usually fuel up at about 280 miles, so unless you are flogging it I should think the GP3 could do 250. Hopefully.

Seems silly, really, why make the tank smaller?

Cheers,

Charlie

 

That was an event MINI organized on the Nürburgring GP circuit 2 weeks ago. The whole venue was to introduce the GP3 as what it is, a toy for the track. There are some other videos out, but all of them does show these guys are not the right stuff as track testers.

I wonder what would happen if they had to use all the regular tires ? It seems all 2020 are equipped semi slicks, and they where lucky all launching dates where dry.

 

Tyres were the standard Hankook, however the TD can be ordered from MINI

Semi-slick mini tires ordered
Hankook ventus TD Z221 225/35/18 87 Y
254.65 VAT a single piece

 

Being loaded at Southampton, how many GP’s do you see?

 

Tyres were the standard Hankook, however the TD can be ordered from MINI

Semi-slick mini tires ordered
Hankook ventus TD Z221 225/35/18 87 Y
254.65 VAT a single piece


Part number?

 

I see one. Maybe two. and it damn well better be mine, lol!

 

i think this is it - 36-11-5-A23-553

 

No, that is the Hankook Ventus S1 EVO2 K129 which is the road tire it comes with on the touring pack.

I think the Hankook Ventus TD Z221 track tire part number is: 36-11-5-A2F-6E2

 

There's a link and s summary of a review of the GP3 at MotoringFile.com now from a publication called AutoCar. It's not really too complimentary. They didn't like the suspension/handling much. I didn't read the whole thing.

 

I just realized that once again MINI puts an odd sized tire on their car. It is a shame as the Toyo R888R would be an option, but only in a 225-40x18, which is about 1” larger in dia.

 

I don't think you see any Hankook TD on a MINI ex-works. Have proof soon, in one week the car is there to strip. (confirmed)

My MINI dealer knows about Ventus TD options, as much as about little helmets, or designer ropes. The Hankook range offers better options. Before I would buy from MINI dealers my tires I retire. Ok, sometimes they have super special for surplus.

You can mount straight as they did, the 235/40-18, or as me 245/40-18 they fit the 8 inch GP3 wheels, and I am sure the record picnic round of 7,56 was not done on regular GP3 stock tires, which of the possible compounds C3 C5 C9 they used for the record run? But overall is the key question are they worth that amount of money? For sure if you want to drive circles around others, and have no other options.

 

The left most row is almost all entirely GPs, so you have a better chance then you thought.

 

Good pick.

This is like doing a “Where is Wally”...

For me and my aged eyes, it takes some squinting, tilting of the head, closing one eye then the other and a bit of the imagination. Looking for that rear wing, I believe I found 3 or 4 of the closest ones in that row that are GPs. And there are a number of gray MINIs further away, which could be? The white roof covers on all of them makes it harder to tell and I am limited as to how large I can blow up the picture.

Best wish for all of you who are waiting...

 

The Hankook Tires have a good reputation, especially for endurance racing (200 wear tires, Lemons racing) where their wear performance is a factor. But for more of sprint-like track day or autocross there are better out there. The Bridgestone RE71Rs and the Yokohamas A052 (edited- I had incorrectly put A051) are 2 that come to mind and the Yoko comes in the GP size. These tires will get most people to 99% of what a semi-slick will get. I have run the Yoko R888s (semi-slick predecessor to the R888R) and was only able to see a marginal difference in lap times, surely nothing to justify the cost. The other thing is a semi-slick will heat cycle out more quickly than the 200 wear tire, and as a result it will be performing like a 200 wear tire a while of use.

 

I don`t dispute the competence of Hankook, rather MINI. Here are so many experts, which compound MINI 225/35/18 offers? did somebody say here 250,-- Pound Sterling? That price in Euro is ok but still high. But in 245-255 too expensive.

 

during a socially distant dealer visit to install some essential Schnitzer and Dinan bits, the dealer just took delivery of their first GP. Apparently the first I. Canada. Not my style but certainly to be appreciated. Mind you, they are right across from a Porsche dealer and down the road from the countries Première tuning house, so a little overshadowed by the GT3s, Brabus 6 wheel G wagon and fleet of novitec Ferrari’s...

 

That depends upon what you want. Minis are more fun, and I would give up some of my faster toys before the mini!

 

Spoiler: check. Wheels: check. Paint: check. Huge plastic fender arches: YUCK!

 

But they have your one and only number on them. No one else has that number. What have you got if got no number?

 

Fast, unique funmobile!