Press release

MINI USA AND THE MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS RACE TEAM HEAD TO CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS AFTER STRONG FINISH AT NOLA MOTORSPORTS PARK

Woodcliff Lake, NJ,  May 19, 2023. MINI USA and the MINI John Cooper Works Team head to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for the third race weekend of the 2023 SRO TC America. The Brownsburg, Ind. -based LAP Motorsports team, which operates the MINI JCW Team, previously took home three podiums last month at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, La., where both Cristian Perocarpi and PJ Groenke finished third place in the Touring Car (TC) class and Touring Car A (TCA) class, respectively. Clay Williams rallied to a third place finish in Race 2 in the TC class. The team will be joined this weekend by Alain Lauziere in the #64 MINI JCW in the TCA class.

The team will be supported this weekend by four qualified MINI Dealer technicians, working alongside the team during practice, qualifying and race days as part of the MINI Technician Race Crew Program. The four dealer technicians were from dealers in the Southern and Western Regions, including one each from MINI of Tuscon, MINI of Clear Lake, MINI of Dallas and MINI of Austin. Each of them will support the team for the entire weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park. 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.
 
“Circuit of the Americas is always an exciting track where we perform well,” said Luis Perocarpi, team owner, LAP Motorsports. “The technical aspect of this track is perfect for the go kart handling our MINIs bring to the table every weekend so it’s going to be great race weekend.”
 
The team finished last season as the runner up for the Manufacturer’s Championship in both the Touring Car (TC) and Touring Car A (TCA) classes. Clay Williams, driver of the #60 MINI JCW Pro, also finished the 2022 season in 2nd place in the Driver’s Championship in the TC class.
 
The next race of the 2023 SRO TC America series is May 19 – 21 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
 
2023 SRO TC America
  • March 30 – April 2:             Sonoma Raceway - COMPLETE
  • April 28 - 30:                       NOLA Motorsports Park - COMPLETE
  • May 19 – 21:                      Circuit of the Americas
  • June 16 – 18:                      Virginia International Raceway
  • August 18 – 20:                  Road America
  • September 22 – 24:           Sebring International Raceway
  • October 5 – 8:                    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 104 MINI full passenger car sales and service dealers 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 MINIUSANEWS.com.