Ultimate JCW will star at MINI party

Text: Conor Mills / Photos: Jalopnik

01st May 2009

What a way to celebrate your 50th birthday! MINI is set to unveil a raft of special editions to mark five decades since the original baby Brit was launched.

The newcomers will be unleashed at the brand’s MINI United event at Silverstone in Northants from 22-24 May. Star of the show will be an uprated John Cooper Works hatch – as it’s also 50 years since motorsport legend John Cooper built his first Formula One race car.

The special JCW gets unique F1 badges and British Racing Green paint, with black bonnet stripes and a Pepper White roof and mirrors. As the mechanicals won’t be touched, the special will provide the same sizzling performance as the standard JCW, with its 1.6-litre turbo delivering 208bhp to the front wheels through a six-speed box.

MINI is refusing to reveal any more details about the limited edition, although a spokesman did confirm that the JCW F1 would line up alongside an undisclosed number of other specials at MINI United.

And five lucky readers will get to see the new cars in the flesh, as we’re giving away tickets to the event – which includes music from rock legend Paul Weller. See our Product Awards special issue, on sale 13 May, for full details.