Press release

MINI USA AND THE MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS RACE TEAM RETURN FOR ANOTHER SRO TC AMERICA SERIES SEASON

Team to introduce season-long “rooftop” graphics series with a nod to 60-year anniversary of MINI victory at Monte Carlo

MINI dealer technicians program to continue in 2024 season
 

Woodcliff Lake, NJ,  April 5, 2024. MINI USA and the MINI John Cooper Works Team are gearing up for another successful season in the Touring Car (TC) and Touring Car A (TCA) classes of the 2024 SRO TC America series. Returning to the team this are Cristian Perocarpi driving the #37 MINI JCW PRO in the TC class and P.J. Groenke driving the #62 MINI JCW in the TCA class. Perocarpi and Groenke will be joined by newcomer to the team Scott Thomson driving the #66 MINI JCW PRO in the TC class.

This weekend MINI USA and the MINI JCW Team will also introduce a special rooftop graphic series that will feature a new graphic on the roof of the #37 MINI JCW PRO driven by Perocarpi at every race weekend. This weekend Perocarpi’s #37 MINI JCW PRO will feature a nod to the 60-year anniversary of the MINI’s victory at Monte Carlo in 1964. MINI vehicles have long been known for having a highly visible white roof and in recent years still offers roof graphics and multi-tone roofs to support owner customization.

This season will also mark the return of the MINI Technician Race Crew Program. Every race weekend MINI dealer technicians support the team at the track during practice, qualifying and race days for the entire weekend. 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. Last season the team was supported by more than 20 qualified MINI dealer technicians and were also voted Crew of the Year by the series’ credentialed participants and competitors. This weekend the team will be supported by four MINI dealer technicians, two from MINI of Hawaii, one from MINI of Stevens Creek and one from MINI of Portland.

“We are looking forward to another great season in the SRO TC America series,”  said Luis Perocarpi, team owner, LAP Motorsports. “We have a solid team of talented drivers and a crew that is one of the best in the series. We hope to bring home another championship to add to the rich MINI motorsports hertitage dating back more than 60 years.”

The team will look to ride the momentum of last season, when 21 year old Clayton Williams won his first Driver’s Championship in the TC class and the team was voted Crew of the Year for the series by the field of credentialed participants and competitors. Last season, then 20 year old Perocarpi took home seven podiums in the #37 MINI JCW PRO, including a second place finish at both Ciricuit of the Americas and Road America. Team veteran Groenke also took home three podiums in the #62 MINI JCW in the TCA class, including his first career win at Virginia International Raceway and third place finishes at NOLA Motorsports Park and Road America.

The MINI JCW Race Team finished the 2023 SRO TC America Series as runner up for both the Manufacturer’s Championship and Team Championship.




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.