Organisers of the MINI CHALLENGE can today confirm that the existing title partnership agreement with Vertu Motors - a retail brand part of the Vertu Motors group - will continue into 2024 in a new, extended deal.
Vertu Motors came onboard as a major partner for the popular one-make series at the start of the season, with the series being rebranded as the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE.
For 2024, the naming deal will be slightly revised, with the series now known simply as Vertu MINI CHALLENGE.
Whilst the ongoing partnership will once again cover both the headline John Cooper Works (JCW) and entry-level Cooper classes, it will also now include a new JCW Sport category being introduced onto the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE ladder for the season ahead.
That category will run alongside the JCW field to bridge the gap between the two classes, providing more drivers with the opportunity to step up from the Cooper category - which is widely regarded as 'one of the most competitive series' on the UK motorsport scene.
Although entries for all classes have yet to open, drivers interested in joining the new class - further details on which will be released soon - can sign up to complete in the inaugural Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Scholarship, which offers the chance to win an entry, car hire, fuel and tyres for a season; a package worth more than £50,000.
As has been the case in recent years, ten of the 14 Vertu MINI CHALLENGE events will run in support of the high-profile British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), with all seven JCW/JCW Sport rounds on the BTCC package alongside three Cooper meetings.
The remaining four Cooper rounds will include two meetings with the British Truck Racing Championship and a major new event at Croft; the local circuit for Gateshead-based Vertu Motors brand.
The extended partnership between Vertu Motors and the MINI CHALLENGE comes on the back of Bristol Street Motors, another brand part of the wider Vertu Motors group, signing a new multi-year agreement to support the EXCELR8 Motorsport team in the British Touring Car Championship.
The Vertu MINI CHALLENGE will provide further opportunity to promote the Vertu Motors retail brand, which includes a number of MINI retail centres up and down the country, from Sunderland in the North East, down as far as Exeter in the South West.
Antony Williams, Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Championship Director, said:
"The first year of our partnership with Vertu Motors has been an undoubted success, and they have fully embraced their involvement in the championship over the last twelve months.
"The fact that they were so keen to now extend the partnership into 2024 speaks volumes for how well our relationship has developed over the course of 2023 and we are excited about working with Vertu to ensure that the MINI CHALLENGE remains 'the place to race'!"
Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu Motors, said:
"When we announced we were to become an Official Partner of the MINI CHALLENGE ahead of 2023, I said I was excited by the prospect of seeing some action-packed racing - the series certainly hasn't disappointed this season.
"As a Group that has a strong heritage in motorsport, our involvement with such a competitive championship has been an undoubted success, allowing us to showcase the Vertu brand to a wider audience and engage with the huge fanbase that attends each of the race weekends.
"We are excited to now extend our deal, with the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE going into a second season, and look forward to seeing more hard-fought battles on track again in 2024."
2024 Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Schedule
| Date | Circuit | Class | Supporting |
| 13/14 April | Snetterton 300 | Cooper | BARC |
| 27/28 April | Donington Park National | JCW/Sport | BTCC |
| 11/12 May | Brands Hatch Indy | JCW/Sport | BTCC |
| 18/19 May | Pembrey | Cooper | BTRC |
| 25/26 May | Snetterton 300 | JCW/Sport | BTCC |
| 8/9 June | Thruxton | Cooper | BTCC |
| 22/23 June | Oulton Park Island | JCW/Sport | BTCC |
| 27/28 July | Croft | JCW/Sport | BTCC |
| 10/11 August | Knockhill | JCW/Sport | BTCC |
| 24/25 August | Donington Park GP | Cooper | BTCC |
| 7/8 September | Croft | Cooper | TBC |
| 21/22 September | Silverstone National | Cooper | BTCC |
| 5/6 October | Brands Hatch GP | JCW/Sport | BTCC |
| 2/3 November | Brands Hatch Indy | Cooper | BTRC |
BTCC denotes British Touring Car Championship
BTRC denotes British Truck Racing Championship
BARC denotes British Automobile Racing Club event
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