Lee Allen

Class: JCW
Race number: 1

Lee Allen is the current Mini Challenge Champion and has stepped up from the S class to the more powerful JCW class for 2011, Lee will be looking to defend his crown in his new Truck Align R56 JCW car which has proved to be quite fast in pre season testing, he is a crowd favorite with his maximum on the edge driving style.

Dean Raymond

Class: Club Class
Race number: 2

2011 will be Dean’s second season in the MINI Challenge. Dean is a young, talented and exciting driver who will be a strong contender in his red and white Club Class Cooper.
Dean didn’t start racing until 2009 and at just 19 years old and in his standard Astra GTE 16v he finished 3rd overall (out of 36 competitors) and Class Champion in the Classic Thunder Modified Saloon Car Championship. He also contested the Pre '93 Touring Car Championship finishing 4th overall (out of 47), 2nd in Class. Fantastic results for his first season.
The 2010 Mini challenge proved to be an interesting season for Dean. Driving his super charged Cooper S, he had numerous class awards and a few crashes.
His personality, daring, and sheer driving skills mean Dean is an exciting driver to watch.

Arthur Forster

Class: JCW
Race number: 3

Arthur Forster is the Principal of Forster Motorsport based in Newcastle. Arthur a 2005 Mini Challenge Champion, a Karting champion, endurance driver and professional is a driver not to be taken faint hearted. Having the experience racing a rear wheeled drive car Arthur raced the Forster BMW in the high profile BTCC championship in 2010 but his heart has always been Mini. With his ability as a professional he will make quick progression with achieving his objectives and you will see this driver in the thrills and spills of this competitive R56 grid.

Stewart Lines

Class: JCW
Race number: 4

Stewart first started racing career in sidecar cross bikes, having the confidence and correct attitude he worked hard to succeed and has now achieved numerous podium wins. Based in Birmingham, Stewart had support from his business Maximum Solution Telecommunications and signed up to debut his car racing career in 2008 with the Mini Challenge. The blue machine as all said was on a mission each race and with some great results under his belt Stewart joins for 2011 in the ‘New’ R56 car.

Andrew Bailey

Class: JCW
Race number: 5

Andrew's racing career started in 2005 in an R53 in the Mini Challenge and he raced for 2 seasons achieving a number of podiums including Spa-Francorchamps. After a break to get married and start a family, Andrew has since competed in a few Mini Challenge races having never lost the bug and returns in 2011 with In:Mini in a newly built JCW.
Andrew sees 2011 as the development year with the new car and the In:Mini team. Sponsors include: abrs Recruitment, TLP Chartered Accountants and Ice Driver.

Luke Caudle

Class: JCW
Race number: 6

Luke started Kart racing 2001 and has an impressive race record.

• Rye House Club Champion 2002 TKM
• Midland Champs 2005 TKM
• Festival Cup Winner 2005 TKM
• 7th British Championship 2006 TKM
• 1st Kimbolton Championship 2006 TKM
• Runner up British Champion 2007 TKM
• Senior British open Champion 2007 TKM
• Senior 177 British Open Champion 2008 Senior Rotax
• 7th in Europe Rotax Max 2008 Senior Rotax
• Mini Challenge Club Class Champion 2009
• Mini Challenge JCW Class Champion 2010

Craig Freeman

Class: JCW
Race number: 7

2009

• Started racing in July
• 4th place in Winter Enduro race at Anglesey in November

• First podium in May with 2nd place at Snetterton
• 3rd overall for season in Mini Challenge S class championship
• 2 class wins in welsh saloon car championships at Pembrey in October, including a 2nd place overall in race 2. Won driver of day award

Finlay Crocker

Class: JCW
Race number: 8

Age 40, Finlay Crocker a Technical Director of Core Cut Ltd is looking forward to the first round at Silverstone on his comeback season.

His Racing Career:
2003: started racing in Scottish Mini Cooper Cup, finished 8th in debut year
2004: Finished 2nd in Scottish Mini Cooper Cup
2005: Finished 2nd in Scottish Mini Cooper Cup
2006: Competed in Mini Challenge in S Class
2007: Competed in Renault Clio Cup with Cleland Motorsport

Having not raced full time since but enjoyed two 2nd Places whilst guest driving in Scottish Mini Cooper Cup in 2010. Really looking forward to some competitive racing with a Craig Noble and Minimax racing built and prepared car in 2011.

Kevin O'Connor

Class: JCW
Race number: 9

Kevin is a retired bike racer and enduro rider, who saw the MINI Challenge as a great way to still get his speed fix. He began racing a Club car in the MINI Challenge in 2009 were he gained a lot of experience and in 2010 he achieved 2nd in the Club Car in 2010 which was a great achievement as he was competing against some very experienced drivers. He enjoyed it so much he talked his friend Craig Freeman into the Challenge and in 2011 Kevin has decided to move up into the JCW class and once again looking for a number of podiums throughout the season.

Chris Smith

Class: JCW
Race number: 10

2011 will be Chris Smith's second full season in the MINI Challenge. Competing with Coastal Racing again in the unmistakable Orange car, Chris is hoping to continue building on the rich form he finished the 2010 season in. Hopefully having put some of the rookie mistakes from 2010 behind him, he will be competing consistently at the front of the field, pushing the more experienced drivers all the way.

Michelle Nixon

Class: Club Class
Race number: 11

Andrey Magiy

Class: Club Class
Race number: 12

Justina Williams

Class: Club Class
Race number: 12

Patrick Mortimer

Class: Club Class
Race number: 15

Patrick 49, A Property Developer, has concentrated the last two years on his other interests Cars and Flying. Due to his wife Wendy's passion for Mini's (old and new) and a member of the East Coast Mini Club, Patrick as had to adopt a "if you can’t beat them join them attitude", and decided to take it one step further this year by give the Mini Challenge a go. This is Patrick's first ever year in competitive motor sport although he has attended many track days in a mixture of rides. Patrick has joined up with Andrew Crighton of "Advent Motor sport" who is also excited to be returning to the Mini Challenge this season. Patrick has always been competitive in Business and sport, his technical flight planning experience gained as a Pilot will also help him to at least hopefully produce a respectable performance this season.

Sam Osborne

Class: JCW
Race number: 18

Sam Osborne has recently turned 18 and what better way to celebrate than with a JCW car to race with. Sam has only in his second year of racing and completed the Mini Challenge in 2010 and finished in 8th place overall, and 4th in the Club Class car last year and hopes to be with the front pack this season. Sam is sponsored for the second year running by The Green Group and Mista box.

Sarah Parsons

Class: Club Class
Race number: 19

Sarah, 20, started racing in the MINI Challenge in 2007 alongside her father Graham. This year sees Sarah signing up for the season without her Dad and with a radical change in the appearance of her Club Car.

Outside of motorsport, her other great loves are boating and skiing.

Daniel Bishop

Class: Club Class
Race number: 21

Gary Wardle

Class: S Class
Race number: 25

George Allen

Class: JCW
Race number: 26

Chris Panayiotou

Class: JCW
Race number: 29

• Gearbox karts for 3 years
• Formula ford
• Raced the Porsche gt3 cup car for two seasons in the Britcar
• Cliocup for a few seasons
• Mini cooper Challenge race last year in the new R56 mini @ Rockingham

Martin Depper

Class: JCW
Race number: 30

Martin Depper, from Birmingham, first started his race career in 2005 with the Mini Challenge Championship. Having made a promising start in the Mini Challenge, with old and new rivals on the grid it was going to be a close-fought season for 2009. Keeping his head down and driving with outstanding talent, he achieved enough points to become the 2009 Champion. Martin?s ambitions got bigger and better to which him and his team mate Arthur Forster made the leap to race in the high profile championship of the BTCC in 2010. Now Martin is thrilled to be back with the Mini Challenge for 2011 in the ?New? R56 car, he is definitely going to be one to watch.

James Loukes

Class: JCW
Race number: 35

This year sees the return of James Loukes to the MINI Challenge after 5 years.
Finishing 3rd in the championship in 2005, James is keen to make his mark this year and is looking forwards to sparring against his old rivals who are also coming back for another attempt at the title. Late decisions have meant the car will first turn its wheels in qualifying at Silverstone - Definitely a wild card to look out for in 2011!

Chris Oakham

Class: JCW
Race number: 35

Rob Ladbrook

Class: Club Class
Race number: 41

Ben Gridley

Class: Club Class
Race number: 44

Ben is 16 years old and is a young karter progressing into cars in 2011. He is currently in 6th form studying I.T, Travel and Tourism, and Psychology for his A/S levels and A levels. His future plans are to go to university however he is still undecided on what he wants to do, after previously considering careers as an architect, chef or a sports psychologist.
Ben’s first experience of driving was in 2001 for his birthday at his local kart circuit. His first competitive season took place in 2007 racing at the same track using not very powerful karts, so he learnt to have a smooth driving style, which has been commented on ever since. In his first ever race he finished 2nd out of 12 and went on to finish runner up in his debut season. Ben then progressed through hire karting and began going to various other circuits such as Buckmore Park.

Ben believes now is the right time to progress up into cars, as he feels he is ready to take the large and daunting step. His career ambitions are to be victorious at the top level of tin top racing across the globe (British Touring Cars, World Touring Cars, DTM & V8 Supercars + more).

Ben hopes that he will learn a lot in 2011, and hopes to be in the hunt for podiums and victories by the end of the season.

David Ogden

Class: JCW
Race number: 45

• David Ogden 46 Managing Director
• First ever race season in 2010, finished first in Club Class!
• Driver training with Paul Taft
• Looking forward to 2011 and very excited about the JCW class this year
• Got the bug!

Len Coed

Class: S Class
Race number: 47

Jason Richardson

Class: JCW
Race number: 50

Jason Richardson starts his third full season of motor racing with a fresh perspective, built on the experience of winning and the knowledge of a solid season of development of the R56 Mini Cooper S with his own team: Dart Motorsport. The 2010 season finished with the perfect result, a double victory at Donington Park against a full strength field. Rather than rest on his laurels, Jason - as he always has done - redoubled his efforts and began planning for 2011. The team retained the same car, which was stripped, completely repainted and carefully rebuilt. Vines of Guildford, renowned Mini dealer joined the team, and the striking 2010 livery was tastefully updated to reflect this. Testing started in February, and Silverstone has been visited just a few times! The team are planning for a long season, and the large grid will demand a 'long game'. Dart Motorsport are ready!

Rhys Lloyd

Class: JCW
Race number: 52

Ant Whorton-Eales

Class: Club Class
Race number: 54

Ant started racing in 2006 at just 11 years of age. He competed in Ministox, the oval-based junior category, racing at venues such as Birmingham Wheels, Hednesford Hills and Northampton International Raceway. By the end of 2007 he was established as one of the top drivers in the class, being elevated to the red grade and giving him a good chance of winning the Points Championship the following season.
He spent much of 2008 leading the title race, but an accident towards the end of the season meant that he lost out to reigning champion Jack Foster after a season-long scrap. He did, however, win the ORCi Ministox Northampton Championship that year, which helped to ease the disappointment.

After three years of racing on the short ovals, moved onto the circuits in 2009 in the 750 Motor Club Polleysport/Yokohama SAXMAX Championship. His target for the year was to win the Rookie of the Year award, but once again he finished as runner up, this time to Josh Wakefield by a handful of points. He demonstrated strong pace throughout the season, gaining several fifth position finishes.
At the start of 2010, Ant joined Richard Colburn’s SAXMAX Championship-winning Westbourne Motorsport team. After just a few track days spent with driver coach Ed Pead, Ant’s driving style and pace changed dramatically. At some circuits, Ant’s times compared to just a season earlier had improved by more than one second. Taking encouragement from this new found pace, and with some alterations being made to the cars set-up, Ant’s aim was to take the 2010 SAXMAX Championship and he did, which more than seven wins throughout the season.
Ant's has moved up to the MINI Challenge in a Club Class car and is looking to be battling at the front again, with the hope that another Championship title maybe on the horizon.

Gavin Bristow

Class: JCW
Race number: 57

Lee Sullivan

Class: JCW
Race number: 68

?I started racing in 2007 in the mg owners club Where I won the novice championship along with a number of lap records. In 2008 i won my class and Overall champion in the Mgoc, carrying on in 2009 With the Mgoc changing class and won my class. In 2010 I joined the mini challenge in a supercharged S class mini car where I had two wins and many podiums and finished second in class. 2011 brings a new challenge!!!!!?

Bob Hosier

Class: S Class
Race number: 70

"I have driven 250 twin superkarts for the last 15 years - Driven in the European championship at least 5 times - Came 7th in the UK in the British Champs - Had a couple of 130mph + accidents in as many races in 2009 & now decided to try cars - Bought the Formula tanker car & this is my first year in the challenge.
I work as a Building Surveyor- living at West Kingsdown, Sevenoaks so very handy for Brands.
My Mechanic & great pal is Vic Chappell"

Chris Knox

Class: JCW
Race number: 77

Scottish racing driver Chris Knox burst onto the British Mini Challenge R56 JCW scene after two seasons in the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup. In 2008 Scottish Mini Cooper Cup, and in only his second race meeting, scored his maiden win. This was followed up with more wins and podiums, such that Chris won the Newcomers Cup and was 3rd in the Championship. This despite missing the first three races due to no car being available.

2009 started off in great style, winning in the first round at Kirkiston, in Ireland. This was followed up with several wins, podiums and fastest laps. However mechanical issues at the last meeting resulted in three non-finishes which severally dented his championship hopes, eventually finishing 3rd in the Championship.

For 2010 a move to the British Mini Challenge R56 JCW class was provided by MinisparesUK, Bury. An R56 JCW was supplied and was finished the night before the first race meeting at Rockingham. In his second race meeting Chris won two rounds and narrowly missed a clean sweep, finishing a very close second. More race wins and podiums followed throughout the season, including the a stunning win in the wet at Brands Hatch and at Castle Combe with a car that was well off the pace. The season resulted in 2nd in R56 JCW class and 4th overall.

For 2011, Chris is continuing in the R56 JCW class, with a new car provided by MinisparesUK, Bury. Hopes are high and Chris can't wait to compete against the influx of new drivers into the R56 JCW class. This includes 5 past and present Mini champions and Chris is looking forward to the challenge. The current financial climate has yielded no additional sponsors. However, loyal supporters have rallied round, and with the support by family and friends Chris will make his mark on the Championship. This season, Chris will be running with Anthony Williams at Excelr8, with additional support from MinispareUK, Bury. Chris is looking forward to a successful and safe 2011.

Shane Stoney

Class: JCW
Race number: 89