Vertu Motors is proud to partner with The MINI CHALLENGE, a one-make racing series widely regarded as one of the most competitive in the UK.
We're delighted to be title sponsor of the series, which forms part of the package for the high-profile British Touring Car Championship, allowing us to promote the Vertu Motors brand in front of a large audience both trackside and live on ITV4.
As fans of everything automotive, our partnership allows us to embrace our Need for Speed!
The MINI CHALLENGE has been part of the UK motorsport scene since 2002 and is seen as both a stepping stone for young drivers looking to make their way up the racing ladder, and a series for more experienced racers seeking all-action competition.
Three classes currently operate in the MINI CHALLENGE, with the headline JCW class and the new JCW Sport class running exclusively on the BTCC package, featuring bespoke race cars designed to act as mini touring cars. The entry level Cooper class is a more cost-effective option for those on a tighter budget, but arguably provides some of the most exciting racing.
The series benefits from a high profile thanks to its links with the BTCC, with races held across the UK at iconic circuits that includes Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Donington Park.
With Vertu Motors operating car dealerships throughout the UK, the partnership with the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE provides a way in which to directly interact with customers through a range of off-track activities, whilst trackside hospitality is a great way in which to reward employees for their efforts or to entertain corporate guests.
The partnership sees the Vertu Motors logo feature on the front screen headers of all MINI CHALLENGE JCW and Cooper Class cars, on the MINI CHALLENGE parts truck, hospitality trailer flags and more. The Safety Car used when MINI CHALLENGE cars are in action is also fully branded in Vertu Motors colours.
"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."
"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'!"
Westbourne Motorsport were the big winners from the opening weekend of the 2024 Vertu MINI CHALLENGE season as the Cooper class headed for Snetterton for the opening three races of the year.
Vertu Motors will once again take up the role of title sponsor for the MINI CHALLENGE in 2024 in an extension of the partnership agreement that was signed last year.
Today marks International Women’s Day, which provides us with the opportunity to celebrate the women working across our industry.
Whilst the fight to secure top honours in the JCW category of the 2023 Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE proved to be a two-way affair, things were much more open amongst a bumper field of drivers dicing for the Cooper class crown.