FULL SPEED INTO THE NEW SEASON

MINI TROPHY season-opener in Oschersleben. A highly-motivated field of drivers goes into battle to dethrone reigning champion Jürgen Schmarl in the popular one-make cup.

 

Seven race weekends of sizzling motorsport action, guaranteed to bring the asphalt at renowned circuits around Germany and Austria to melting point: that is the intoxicating character of the MINI TROPHY. That is what fans love about the clubsport series, in which drivers line up in technically identical MINI John Cooper Works Challenge racing cars. The one-make cup, which succeeded the MINI Challenge Germany, enters its second season at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben this weekend. The races will once again be held on the same bill as the ADAC GT Masters. As such, a first-rate sporting atmosphere is guaranteed, and the 15 MINI racing cars are all set for a spectacular start to the season.
Jürgen Schmarl of the Fast Forward team, who won the 2012 MINI TROPHY, is the man everyone is out to beat this year. Many experienced drivers, such as Thomas Tekaat of Besaplast Team Dombek and Steve Kirsch of Frensch Power Motorsport, have their sights set on relieving the Austrian of his title. However, the field also features some lightning-quick ladies who are out to mix it with the front-runners this season. Well-known drivers like Cora Schumacher, the speedy wife of motorsport star Ralf Schumacher, and 2008 Playboy playmate Doreen Seidel will be joined by ambitious newcomer Victoria Froß, who will be racing in the IMC-Motorsport MINI Challenge.

 Year of learning for Victoria and “Lotte”.

Last season, Victoria made two guest appearances in the MINI TROPHY. This year, the lady from Leipzig will line up at every race. She is not afraid of any of the circuits, but does have particular respect for the Nürburging-Nordschleife – venue for the second race weekend of the year. “It will be a season of learning for me,” said Victoria. “However, the Nordschleife is a very special challenge.” Victoria will wait until after the opening round of the season to decide whether or not she will start at the iconic circuit, which hosts the annual 24-hour race and appropriately bears the nickname “Green Hell”. Wherever she lines up, so will her MINI John Cooper Works Challenge – nickname “Lotte”, as in “volle Lotte”, meaning “full throttle” in English. The diverse range of racetracks on this year’s race calendar will give Victoria plenty of opportunity to put her foot down. 

As well as the races on famous German circuits like the Lausitzring, Hockenheimring and Sachsenring, the series will also take a trip to Austria, where it will experience a true rollercoaster ride at the Red Bull Ring. While the circuits may be extremely varied, the one constant in the MINI TROPHY is the MINI John Cooper Works Challenge with its 1.6-litre turbo engine generating 211 hp, which is capable of up to 240 km/h. Thanks to the standard technical prerequisites, the MINI TROPHY is decided by driving ability and astute tactics. Fans of the MINI TROPHY can look forward to thrilling, bumper-to-bumper race action. And it goes without saying that the fringe programme at the events will also feature that typical MINI lifestyle ambience.

 

You will regularly find photos of the 2013 MINI TROPHY season after the races at Facebook.com/MINImotorsport.

2013 dates.

26^th  – 28^th  April, Oschersleben
17^th  – 19^th  May, Nürburgring-Nordschleife
7^th  – 9^th  June, Sachsenring
2^nd  – 4^th  August, Nürburgring
9^th  – 11^th  August, Red Bull Ring (Austria)
30^th  August – 1^st  September, Lausitzring
27^th  – 29^th  September, Hockenheim