MINI USA has dedicated to a full 2026 American Rally Affiliation season, marking the model’s return to factory-backed rally competitors in North America. Working as The John Cooper Works Race Staff in partnership with LAP Motorsports, MINI will discipline a John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 within the Restricted 4-Wheel Drive class and a 2-door Cooper S within the Open 2-Wheel Drive class.
This system begins this weekend with the Sno*Drift Rally in Atlanta, Michigan (February 6-7), increasing on restricted regional appearances final yr. Luis Perocarpi will drive the Countryman, with Cristian Perocarpi within the Cooper S. Each drivers deliver earlier rally expertise, together with Luis’s participation within the 2025 Nemadji Path Winter Rally.
“We explored fashionable rally competitors with a pair regional races final yr to check the capabilities of our newer fashions,” stated Kate Alini, head of promoting, product and technique at MINI USA. “Based mostly on aggressive efficiency and fan curiosity, we determined to decide to a full season and reconnect with our rally heritage.”
MINI’s Rally Historical past and Trendy Lineup
MINI’s resolution positions the model towards opponents with established rally packages. The unique Mini Cooper S achieved vital success within the Sixties, winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967 towards extra highly effective autos. The up to date MINI ALL4 competed within the Dakar Rally by the 2010s.
Each the Cooper and Countryman would require solely minimal security and competitors modifications underneath ARA guidelines, relying largely on manufacturing unit efficiency capabilities.
2026 ARA Nationwide Championship Schedule
The American Rally Affiliation operates the one nationwide stage rally championship in the US. The 2026 calendar contains eight occasions spanning February by October throughout regionally various terrain. The Sno*Drift occasion options snow and ice-covered forest roads in northern Michigan and sometimes attracts 50 competitors autos from the US and Canada.
Remaining scheduled occasions embody:
- Sno*Drift Rally February 6-7, 2026, Atlanta, Michigan
- Rally within the 100 Acre Wooden March 13-14, 2026, Salem/Potosi, Missouri
- Olympus Rally April 17-19, 2026, Shelton, Washington
- Southern Ohio Forest Rally June 11-13, 2026, Chillicothe, Ohio
- Rally Colorado July 18-19, 2026, Rangely, Colorado
- Ojibwe Forests Rally August 27-29, 2026, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
- Overmountain Rally Tennessee September 18-19, 2026, Newport, Tennessee
- Lake Superior Efficiency Rally October 9-10, 2026, Marquette, Michigan
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