2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP laps Nürburgring in less than 8 minutes

Mini has revealed the next version of its limited edition Mini John Cooper Works GP will be able to lap the Nürburgring in less than eight minutes.

This is not only a huge improvement over the 2012 JCW GP, which lapped the circuit in 8 minutes and 23 seconds, but it also puts the Mini closer to the other rather focused sub-8min hot hatches from Renault, Honda, and VW.

Mini is using the Nürburgring to test and tune the John Cooper Works GP's setup and says its testing process isn’t yet complete, meaning the GP could turn out to be quite a fast thing indeed.

In terms of its power, the GP is said by Mini to be packing a BMW-derived four-pot with more than 220kW, which is likely to be the same engine from the BMW X2 M35i and new BMW M135i.

On the exterior, the JCW GP features extroverted aero such as the large intakes, muscular aprons, and a fairly hefty wing. It’s also got protruding arches which allow air to pass through.

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Stylistically, it takes the lead from the previous two John Cooper Works GPs, from 2006 and 2012, which featured similar wings and racey elements.

Mini took the opportunity to display all three generations on track at the recent 24 hours of Nürburgring though it says the current model is still in prototype form, thus the camo.

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Once it’s properly revealed and launched in 2020, 3000 units are to be available. Mini Australia has expressed interest in the 2020 Mini Cooper JCW GP, after the previous GP model saw 55 units arrive in Australia in 2013.