MotoringFile Australian MINI Challenge to End in 2010

In sad news it would appear that MINI is pulling all corporate support on Australia’s MINI Challenge series. The lack of official support likely means the series will race for the last time next weekend in Sydney. It’s unclear what (if anything) this means for the European series.(Courtesy of Ausmotive)

Official Release: BMW Group Australia today announced that after three highly successful years, the MINI Challenge race series would not be continued in 2011.

The final race of the 2010 series will be the Sydney Street Circuit at Homebush on 3-5 December.

MINI national manager, David Woollcott, said the race series had been a tremendous success but was an extremely costly enterprise.

“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 Mr 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,” he said.

“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,” said Mr Woollcott.

From MotoringFile