JEROEN BLEEKEMOLEN WINS IN ZANDVOORT (NL)

Munich/Amsterdam. Just a few hours after Jeroen Bleekemolen (Aerdenhout/NL,
Team ProSieben) gained pole position in the qualifying in Zandvoort (NL), the
local Dutch hero had reason to celebrate yet again: the former DTM pro put in a
perfect start-to-finish lead in the first MINI CHALLENGE race of his life! "I'm
really pleased. Especially because it was such hard work to defend my position
- that makes winning so much more significant," said Bleekemolen after the race.

During the 30-minute race held as part of the MINI United Festival, only Ben
Spouse (Munich, Schirra motoring) managed to keep a tail on the flying
Dutchman. "I was always hot on Jeroen's heels, but I just couldn't manage the
crucial attack," said the Englishman. Spouse had put in the second-best time in
the qualifying and explained afterwards why he had been so fast: "The
undulating and winding profile of the race track is well suited to my very soft
driving style. Here in Zandvoort you sense the typical MINI go-kart feeling
much more than elsewhere."

In the fourth of a total of 15 scored heats of the MINI CHALLENGE in the 2007
season, Maximilian Werndl (Thansau, BRAINFORCE Lechner Racing) finished third.
"After the qualifying I was a little disappointed, but now I have come to terms
with the day's performance. Especially because I was able to leave Hari and
Joakim behind me - two direct competitors in the overall ranking," said the
19-year-old happily, who started the race in 5th place. The Austrian Hari
Proczyk (Knittelfeld/A, Team ProSieben) finished the race behind Werndl in 4th
place, while Swede Joakim Mangs (Södertälje/S, Schubert Motors) was fifth
across the finishing line. Alexander Burgstaller (Munich, MINI Germany) was
actually hoping for more: "But tomorrow I'll be in pole position at least,"
said the MINI CHALLENGE ambassador, already setting his sights on tomorrow's
race, in which - according to the MINI CHALLENGE rules - the first six of the
Saturday race take up their positions at the start in reverse order.

Johannes Stuck (Maureen/Lie, Team Spicy) was unlucky. The son of racing legend
Hans-Joachim "Striezel" Stuck was forced to abandon his 210 bhp MINI Cooper S
racing model due to technical problems after 10 laps. "I suddenly had no fuel
pressure any more - though I was doing a pretty good job in the laps up to
then. That's racing for you - tomorrow is a new start," said Stuck junior,
giving a sportsmanlike explanation for his mishap.
The second MINI CHALLENGE heat of the weekend will be held the following day,
Sunday June 24th at 12.00. Once again, 33 technically identical MINI Cooper S
with John Cooper Works Tuning Kit will line up at the start and captivate the
international guests of the MINI United Festival with a fast and furious
position race.

Photos and current press information at:
www.MINI.de/CHALLENGE/presslounge/login
(Login: media / password: challenge)

Please find the Result of heat 04 in the attached document.

Note:
For more information on the MINI United Festival in Zandvoort, see
www.MINI.com/MINIUnited

For questions to the MINI CHALLENGE Media Team please contact:
Sarah Crook
MINI Product Communication
Tel: +49-89-382-59355
Mobile: +49-160-4768262
Fax: +49-89-382-20626
Mail: Sarah.Crook@mini.com

Cypselus von Frankenberg
MINI Product Communication
Tel: +49-89-382-30641
Mobile: +49-170-7965284
Fax: +49-89-382-20626
Mail: Cypselus.von-Frankenberg@mini.com

Christian Geib
MINI CHALLENGE Press Service
c/o die agentour GmbH
Tel: +49 (0) 89-530997-40
Mobile: +49 (0) 179-4941781
Fax: +49 (0) 89-53099777
Mail: ChristianG@MINI-CHALLENGE-PRESSE.de