The bolide is based on a highly equipped MINI John Cooper Works with a 6-speed manual gearbox and an output of 231 hp / 170 kW with a maximum torque of 320 Nm.
With this special model, the private racing team from Nürburg is celebrating the best finish for a MINI in a 24-hour race in the brand’s 64-year history. The engine and many features of the special model are equal to the race car with the starting number #126 from Bulldog Racing, but the safety features enforced by the competition regulations are dispensed with in favour of everyday usability.
“Finishing in second place and achieving the first podium for MINI after a gruelling 24 hours was a great achievement. The moment we crossed the finish line, the idea of sharing this moment with our fans was born. Our biggest challenge in developing the Bulldog Racing Edition was to keep it as close as possible to our race car while making sure it is still road legal,” says Alexander Schabbach, Managing Director of Bulldog Racing.
With the use of various motorsport components, which can be combined and installed individually according to the customer’s preferences, the Bulldog Racing Edition creates real “racing feeling” for the road.
The core of the edition is the KW V3 suspension, adjustable in compression and rebound damping which, among other things, increases grip, improves turn-in behaviour and increases safety at the limit. The suspension setup is carried out individually for each vehicle by one of Bulldog Racing’s professional drivers on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The 17-inch OZ HyperGT alloy wheels in combination with the Remus brand sports exhaust give each vehicle an unobtrusive yet unmistakable appearance. A point of honour: after good experiences with the racing tyres, Pirelli provides the tyres for the special model with P Zero Performance tyres in size 205/45R17. The Stern Performance Parts Clubsport set replaces the rear seat with a strut with fitting mesh and carpet. The resulting weight saving improves the performance of the car.
One of the visual highlights on the exterior is the large Bulldog Racing roof decor foil, which traditionally adorns every race car of the team. Inside, each Bulldog Racing edition comes with an individual badge identifying the car as a numbered limited edition and documenting the day the suspension was set up on the Nordschleife, as well as various other discreet features.
“In order to be able to cater to the widest possible range for individual desires, each car is customized according to the customer’s wishes and is therefore unique. Our special model shows what modifications we can make to the car. We are also pleased to be able to offer this service to customers with older MINIs of the current generation from 2014 onwards”, says Alexander Schabbach.