MINI UK had a competition to win a chance to test drive their cars at Goodwood Circuit and track your own MINI. I jumped at this opportunity hoping that i would get a slot. Who wouldn’t want to trash around some MINIs for a day for FREE!!!!!

I was selected for this invite only event : D

So the night before I filled her up with V Power to the brim as i knew it would be a long journey.

Dawn broke so i get ready for this event as it would be a 3 hour drive for me (164 miles).

Sat Nav on and cruise control on i set on the UK Motorways to be greeted by lovely 50mph speed limits at 7am

Got to Love UK Motorways and that was just the beginining of it as hit numerous speed limits zones ranging from 40mph to 60mph : (

I had finally got out of these dreaded zones to be greeted by the New Aston Martin Vanquish joining to the motorway and lets says he wasn’t observing UK speed limits. I managed to keep a chase to shoot some footage of it

It sounded really naughty n fruity and it was shifting, easily going over 100mph

I hit London to be greeted with more speed limits and my first time ever seeing a broken down MINI on the slip road : (

After getting past Terminal 5 into Chichester the roads became wonderful to test the JCW handling capabilities with a MOOOOSIVVEEE Tunnel

Lets say I slowed down in the tunnel and gave them the sound of my JCW with added few Pops & Bangs for good measure

After some country road driving the JCW was flithy like i had driven through a field with mud on the carbon fibre mirror caps

I saw the Goodwood sign and parked the car outside to get some cheeky snaps in before i drove inside

BT11 WRK at Goodwood for MINI TO THE MAX

I went down the Infamous Goodwood tunnel to which i was sooo tempted to full it door but i didnt

I pulled my car into the stables and let it tick off before i switched it off

AM_AUTOS & 118 from Surrey New MINI

I reckon my JCW looks meaner without a Front Plate

I walked into the Goodwood booth and was greeted by MINI UK and given my wrist band for the event and some paperwork to fill out due to safety and insurance policies by BMW/MINI.

This is where i met the lovely Ysabel who had been with MINI since its launch in 2001 under the BMW Brand and she has had 53 MINIs!!!!!!!!

I am actually jealous of her, I think she needs to share with ME!

I knew Ian, Neil & David (Surrey New MINI) would be at the event to which I bumped into them upstairs as they watched the New GP zoom past on the circuit on a damp track.

We given some brunch to enjoy before we given a briefing about the day held for us as well a safety briefing about the track and history of the Goodwood track.

The Goodwood track was actually an airbase/runaway in WWII hence the long straight of the circuit and the reason why it Kinks sharply because if a bomber came down and bombed the runaway full of planes some would be saved because the sharp turn.

Goodwood Track Layout

The Goodwood circuit has claimed some lives in its time and ended Sir Stirlings Moss career 1962 on that very bend I spoke about. The Late Carroll Shelby made his mark on this circuit by winning here in his infamous bib overalls

On a uplifting note the Mini MINI from the Olympics was there on a stand the one that shuttled the Javelins for the Olympics

Its awesome with the body work and off-road tyres – Good thing the Wheel Gap Police weren’t there at the event

But there was an cheeky little note under the mini MINI

I walked downstairs to see this beauty the Pre Production MINI GP as it would when its sold to the public – well 2,000 lucky people across the globe

MINI GP – 1 of 2,000

Strangely it looked better in person than last when i saw it unveiled at MINI UNITED i gather it was fact that GP in France was a shell and the paint on this pre production shined due to a clear cloat of the paint (I am just gonna put it down to it being a running GP with factory quality paint)

MINI GP 2

I jumped into MINI’s Coupe Cooper S and headed out with an instructor who guided me through each bend to see my level of skill and learn the circuit at the same time.

I learnt that I turn in to early and I need to position my car slightly more close to edge of the track before entering. It is always better to go in slow then go fast out and that I should be eyeing the next corner to get my line straight as possible to get a faster lap time.

Pick your MINI?

This was actually the first time i have genuinely been scared on a track given that i been on Silverstone, Paul Ricard Circuit, Monaco circuit and Castle Combe. I was hitting 120mph on the straights and carrying 80mph into the 1st corner with half throttle!!!

Goodwood is flat aerodrome circuit which makes hard to race around as there are no reference points, no run off and its incredible smooth and flat. If you enter or mess up a corner its the barrier as its the track and a little bit of grass then a metal barrier with a tire wall filled with sand.

The next treat was jumping into a MINI Challenge race car again : )

This time i was female driver – Tiffany Chittenden at the wheel with some serious pedigree behind her (GT3, Karting, Formula Ford and Mercedes World Driving Specialist)

Once again like at MINI UNITED I told Tiffany Dont Hold back and just go for it!!!

I think i have a crush on her now after the way she drove and she was very nice to talk to

On an interesting note the Challenge Racecar couldn’t overtake the new MINI GP on the straights but could late brake the GP and overtake on the corner but the MINI GP wasnt too far behind!

Ian and Neil got behind of the Most expensive MINI ever made the Goodwood Edition at £40,000

Suits you Sir – MINI Goodwood Edition

Fun Fact: The Mats in the Goodwood cost £2,000 (Cashmere & Lambs Wool)

I gave Ysabel my Infamous Hat to wear whilst i went around in the GP for safe keeping. She was rocking the look very well, if I do say so myself

Next was my favourite bit of the day with Steve of MINI taking the MINI GP around flat out and he could DRIVE.

MINI GP awaits you…

As I went around in the passenger seat I analysed how the GP was riding, cornering and picking up its speed and comparing it to my JCW. I didnt like the new recaros for the track compared to my bucket ones as i was actually slipping out of them slowly.

However those Kumho Ecsta V700 R-Spec tires were doing their job around the corners and the suspension was firmer than my JCW but still giving. They helped flat cornering with the car feeling stable any speed on the straights and in or out of corner. The GP definitely felt faster than my JCW with it comfortably reaching over 130mph on the straights.

THE BRAKES just worked effortlessly with Steve breaking very very late and the speed just been scrubbed like in the Challenge car. The Six pot calipers even fad after all the laps the GP went out on quick concession (The GP was driven to every Inch of it Cylinders).

After that I wanted a GP!!!

Previous Gen or the New one, I would be getting one as my 2nd car

The saving pot has started!!!

After some afternoon nibbles and some water

It was time for me to head out in my JCW on the track

Ready to take it to the MAX

Crash helmet on and instructor with me i headed out on a empty track all for me : )

I had Phil again with me and he actually told me i felt better in my own and drove it harder

I said to him ” I know how my car handles and i am happy to it the MAX because its the reason why i brought it, I didnt buy a fast car to drove it slow”

Phil was impressed by how much better i drove my car and he told me i felt like completely different driver. I took on Phil’s advice about improving my track technique and i will apply it again soon because it made sense when told me to let go of the steering wheel at 60mph and he turned it in to show how turn in a bend which i found abit tricky.

After all this MINI Madness, we were all brought in and given some FREE SWAG