Press release

MINI USA AND THE MINI JOHN COOPER RACE TEAM READY TO CHASE THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE SRO TC AMERICA SERIES

Team looks to build on momentum generated by podium finishes at 2021 season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Woodcliff Lake, NJ,  April 14, 2022. MINI USA and the MINI John Cooper Works Team are set to kickoff the 2022 SRO TC America series this weekend at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. The Brownsburg, Ind. -based LAP Motorsports team, which operates the MINI JCW Team, will field three cars in the Touring Car A (TCA) class this weekend. Returning to the cockpits are Clay Williams in the #60 MINI JCW, and Cristian Perocarpi in #61 MINI JCW, along with newcomer PJ Groenke in #62 MINI JCW. The team is looking forward to having fans back at the track this year as they chase the Manufacturer’s Championship, Team Championship and Driver Championship titles.
 
The MINI John Cooper Works team ended their racing season on a high note at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with two first-place finishes and a second place finish in the final race weekend of the 2021 SRO TC America series. The races will take place on Saturday, April 16, at 7:00 pm ET and Sunday, April 17, at 1:30 pm ET. Fans looking to tune in for the races can watch live on the TC America website.
 
“The level of excitement in the paddock right now is through the roof,” said Luis Perocarpi, team owner, LAP Motorsports. “We have some of the best young talent out there ready to chase the championship. It’s going to be a great season.”
 
This year’s schedule also enables MINI USA to continue growing the MINI Technician Race Crew Program providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for qualified MINI Dealer technicians, who work alongside the LAP Motorsports team during practice, qualifying and race days at seven events across the country. The race team relies on the skill and knowledge of the technicians that work, day to day on MINI, to bring that expertise to the track.
 
There will be seven dealer technicians from the Western Region (Seattle MINI, MINI of Portland, Crevier MINI and South Bay MINI) supporting the team at the first race in Sonoma.
 
2022 SRO TC America
  • April 15 – 17:                     Sonoma Raceway
  • May 20 – 22:                     Ozarks International Raceway
  • June 17 – 19:                     Virginia International Raceway 
  • July 22 – 24:                      Watkins Glen International
  • August 19 – 21:                 Road America
  • September 23 – 25:           Sebring International Raceway
  • October 7– 9:                     Indianapolis Motor Speedway

About the MINI JCW Team
The MINI JCW Team, operated by LAP Motorsports, drives MINI’s most powerful Hardtop ever in the two-door MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop. The team competes in the fiercely competitive SRO TC America Series. For additional information please visit minijcwteam.com or email luis@minijcwteam.com.
 
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 authorized MINI USA dealer organization is represented by a network of 115 locations comprised of 105 MINI full passenger car sales and service dealers and 10 service exclusive outlets located throughout the US.  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 five unique vehicles.
 
Journalist notes: Media information about MINI and its products is available to journalists on-line at www.miniusanews.com.