MAXIME MARTIN WINS MINI CHALLENGE WORLD FINAL

Munich, Germany/Misano Adriatico, Italy. A win in the final race of the weekend
allowed Maxime Martin to seal overall victory in the MINI Challenge World
Final. The Belgian driver had the edge over the 19 fastest MINI drivers from
ten different countries over the four disciplines of this multi-faceted
championship. Second in the standings was the Swede Fredrik Lestrup, ahead of
Johannes Stuck (Austria) - son of racing legend Hans-Joachim "Strietzel" Stuck
- in third. The world championship was just one of the attractions on the bill
at the inaugural MINI United event.

In addition to the two 16-lap races in technically identical MINI Cooper S cars
complete with John Cooper Works Tuning Kit, the drivers also had to negotiate a
pair of slalom courses in the same cars, battle it out over two karting races
and demonstrate their skill over a quad driving course. The points earned in
each discipline were added together for the overall classification.

"I had to work hard to wrap up the MINI Challenge world championship title,"
said Martin. "After my rather unfortunate first race, I thought my chance had
gone." Martin came into the pits unnecessarily in the night race on Saturday
after misinterpreting a trackside instruction, shunting him back down the field
when victory was within reach - and costing him valuable championship points.
However, Martin backed up his eventual sixth place with impressive performances
in the other disciplines to leave him with a slim 75-point advantage over
Fredrik Lestrup in second place.

Stephanie Halm, the only woman in the field, finishes fifth.
"I messed it up in the second karting race," grimaced Lestrup. Indeed, after
winning the first outing in the karts the 21-year old could only manage
eleventh position in the second run. "That left me short of points in the
overall standings," lamented the Swede, who was one of the fastest drivers in
the two main MINI Cooper S races with one third and one fifth-place finish.
"Having said all that, finishing runner-up was still a great result for me."

Johannes Stuck went into the final race leading the overall standings, but
dropped two places after he could do no better than fifth. "I was caught up in
a minor collision shortly after the start," explained the 18-year-old Austrian.
"The suspension was damaged and that took the edge off the car's performance."
Crossing the finishing line just ahead of Stuck was Stephanie Halm (Germany),
the only woman in the field of the world's fastest MINI drivers. Her fourth
place allowed Halm to clinch fifth overall behind Belgium's François Verbist.

"Una vittoria speziale" for Alex Zanardi in the Special Guest Race.
The Special Guest Race at the MINI United weekend ended in victory for
Alessandro Zanardi. The Italian, one of the leading drivers in the FIA World
Touring Car Championship, passed the then leader Alexander Burgstaller
(Germany) in the final corner. "Winning the race on my home track is something
very special for me, una vittoria speziale," beamed Zanardi. The former Formula
One driver and Champ Car champion lost both legs after a horrific accident four
years ago and was racing in a specially adapted MINI Cooper S.

Burgstaller was unruffled by Zanardi's decidedly aggressive overtaking
manoeuvre. "It's all just part of motor racing," shrugged the winner of the
German MINI Challenge 2004. "Alessandro pulled it off with such skill that I
had no chance." Third was Roberto Ravaglia (Italy), the 1987 touring car
champion who has since become Zanardi's team boss.

In all, 17 celebrity MINI aficionados lined up for the Special Guest Race to
round off the MINI United event. Among the stars on the grid were ex-Formula
One drivers Christian Danner (Germany) and Marc Surer (Switzerland), Finish
"Rally Professor" Rauno Aaaltonen - the winner of the 1967 Rallye Monte Carlo
in a Mini - and the Italian singer Max Gazzè. Twice German production car
champion Claudia Hürtgen led the race from pole position, but was forced to
retire with electronics problems.

Result: MINI Challenge World Final
Misano (Italy), 28 - 30 October 2005

1. Maxime Martin Belgium 3915 points
2. Fredrick Lestrup Sweden 3840 points
3. Johannes Stuck Austria 3805 points
4. François Verbist Belgium 3550 points
5. Steffi Halm Germany 3320 points
6. Markus Palttala Finland 3000 points
7. Oliver Glen Mortimer Great Britain 2895 points
8. Remo Friberg Switzerland 2415 points
9. Bernhard Laber Germany 2405 points
10. Urs Hintermayer Switzerland 2400 points
11. Thomas Winkelhock Germany 2005 points
12. Andy Sayle Great Britain 1985 points
13. Gunther Raus Belgium 1795 points
14. Fahrad Al-Musalam Bahrain 1535 points
15. Mike Eady New Zealand 1380 points
16. Brad Davis USA 1325 points
17. Rob Austin Great Britain 1240 points
18. Roy Klaus Kindor USA 1025 points
19. Barney Craggs Great Britain 1005 points
20. Arthur Forster Great Britain 450 points