BMW Group Australia has announced that after three years, the MINI Challenge race series will not continue in 2011.
The final race meeting will be next week’s event as part of the Sydney Telstra 500 at Homebush.
“Motorsport is becoming increasingly expensive and, together with a contraction in the television exposure, this has meant the race series has become financially unviable,” said MINI national manager, David Woollcott.
David Woollcott expressed his sincere gratitude to race organizers Toleman Motorsport who operated MINI Challenge as category rights holder.
“Toleman has brought a wealth of motorsport experience to the series and has delivered three outstanding seasons of racing to the highest international standards,” said Mr Woollcott
“We owe the success of MINI Challenge in Australia to Toleman’s enthusiasm and hard work. MINI would also like to recognize the contribution of all those who participated in MINI Challenge including V8 Supercars, CAMS, our series sponsors Hertz and Pizza Capers and most of all, the teams and drivers who made MINI Challenge such a thrilling spectacle.”
MINI might be off the Australian motorsport scene, but on the international stage it will be contesting selected rounds of the World Rally Championship in 2011, before a full WRC programme in 2012.
