MINI JCW Team Preps for Lime Rock Race
MINI JCW and MINI USA are preparing for the next big race at the track in Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park. This comes hot on the brand’s success at Watkins Glen, where Mini cars took 3 out of the 5 top spots, and a podium finish for the team at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. There, James Vance piloted the #37 MINI JCW to a third place finish after struggling to hold his lead against the race’s eventual winner for more than an hour. Mike LaMarra will join Vance at Lime Rock.
The #52 MINI JCW had to be reassembled after it was pushed to the wall at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. It will be driven at Lime Rock by Nate Norenberg and Mark Pombo. Meanwhile, Derek Jones and Mat Pombo will drive the #73 MINI JCW. They’ve already amassed two victories this season.
“Our team is fired up coming off the successful weekends we had at both Watkins Glen and Mosport and we will continue our push to the top of the standings,” said Luis Perocarpi, team owner, LAP Motorsports. “We are the only team that has been able to challenge the top team in the standings so far and even they have not outperformed us during the first half of the season. Our MINI JCW race cars will be fast again this weekend and we will be driving hard for the win.”
The team will receive support from MINI dealerships all over the country, as part of the MINI Service Technicians Education Training Program. Technicians from New Country MINI in Hartford, CT, Prestige MINI in Ramsey, NJ, Prestige MINI of Duchess County in Wappingers Fall, NY and MINI of Allentown in Allentown, PA will join the team at Lime Rock.
The team races MINI JCW hardtops that are closely related to the John Cooper Works hardtops currently sold in MINI dealerships across the USA. They are currently ranked second in manufacturer standings, just after Porsche.
“I cannot be more proud of our drivers and crew so far this season,” said Perocarpi, “They are as passionate and professional as any team owner could ask for and we’re going to kick some butt this weekend.”
