MINI USA AND JOHN COOPER WORKS RACE TEAM PODIUM AT “RALLY COLORADO” - FIFTH ROUND IN THE 2026 ARA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

• MINI’s two-car factory-backed team make strong showing at “Rally Colorado” kicking off the second half of the ARA 2026 Season.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ –   July   23, 2026 – MINI USA and the John Cooper Works Race Team secured a podium finish this past weekend July 18-19 at “Rally Colorado” held in and near Rangely in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The event marks the second half of the American Rally Association’s (ARA) 2026 season.

Competing on fast-paced, twisting stages, featuring smooth gravel, clay, and hard-packed dirt, the MINI John Cooper Works 2-Door driven by Drew Quillen and David Quillen in the Open 2 Wheel Drive class (National O2WD) placed third in-class in the National Championship. In the Limited 4 Wheel Drive class (National L4WD) driving the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4, the team of Felicia Killman and Luis Perocarpi secured sixth in-class in the National Championship.

“Rally Colorado” was a success for our MINI JCW Team this weekend. We have been making progress with our two MINIs as we continue to fight for podium finishes in the 2026 ARA National Championship”, said Luis Perocarpi, team owner, LAP Motorsport. “Both the John Cooper Works 2-Door and the John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 delivered strong performances throughout the Colorado stages. We’re looking forward to keeping our progress going for the next rally in August.”

MINI Models Show Competitive Stripes

The two MINI vehicles competing in the 2026 ARA season include the John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 in the Limited 4 Wheel Drive class (L4WD) and the iconic MINI John Cooper Works 2-Door in the Open 2 Wheel Drive class (O2WD). With initial safety-oriented modifications and ARA classes allowing minimal modifications from factory components, MINI’s core performance capabilities shine through.

Underscoring MINI’s adventurist spirit, the 2026 MINI Countryman is larger, offering new levels of versatility and all-road capabilities in the compact SUV category. The MINI John Cooper Works 2-Door represents MINI’s iconic appearance, size, and performance, with a short wheelbase and “go-kart” handling.

A Heritage Rooted in Rally Success  

MINI has a storied rally history defined by the iconic Mini Cooper S dominating the 1960s with its agile handling and surprising wins over more powerful cars. Key successes include victories in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967, and dominance in the 2010s with the MINI ALL4 Racing in the Dakar Rally.

The classic Mini, originally designed to be both a space-efficient and fuel-efficient city car by Alec Issigonis, was transformed into a rally powerhouse by John Cooper. Its small size, front-wheel drive, and "go-kart" handling allowed it to outperform much more powerful V8 rivals on tight, icy mountain passes. 

MINI and LAP Motorsports

MINI USA has had a long-standing relationship with LAP Motorsports, founded and operated by Luis Perocarpi. Since 2015, LAP Motorsports and MINI USA have collaborated with the MINI John Cooper Works Race Team competing in IMSA ST and more recently in SRO and TC Americas class of the World Challenge series. With a winning legacy behind the wheel of MINIs on the track, LAP Motorsports and MINI USA have set sights on new racing opportunities with rally, which offers the thrill of competition to new audiences, while remaining authentic to MINI’s motorsport heritage.

The 2026 A RA Season

The 2026 ARA season includes a full competitive calendar of eight events from February through October 2026. The American Rally Association (ARA) is the largest rally organization in the United States and promotes the country's only cohesive, nationwide competition for the sport of stage rally.

Following “Rally Colorado” the 2026 ARA National Championship season continues with the remaining events:

• Ojibwe Forests Rally August 27-29, 2026, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
• Overmountain Rally Tennessee September 18-19, 2026, Newport, Tennessee
• Lake Superior Performance Rally October 9-10, 2026, Marquette, Michigan

To learn more about the ARA and its partners, go to www.AmericanRallyAssociation.org

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 note:  Media information about MINI and its products is available to journalists on-line at www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa.

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