In the over-hyped and ridiculous contrived "race" between the Mini Cooper and the Porsche 911, a victor has been crowned, and as you'd expect, the blokes from BMW had their bumpers handed to them.

Despite creating a "track" at the infield of Road Atlanta designed to maximize the Mini's potential and neuter the high-speed prowess of the Porsche, the Cooper still lost the battle by a full two seconds. Naturally, Mini likes to point out that the difference was $38,000 a second, but to anyone paying attention, the additional $76k is money well spent... particularly on a real track. Maybe Mini should've reconsidered Hyundai's offer...

Below are the vids of the race and two introductory videos, including a thoroughly comical explanation about why Mini opted for an autocross track and not the full course at Road Atlanta.

Source [Autoblog]

YouTube - Mini Cooper vs. Porsche 911 at Road Atlanta

YouTube - Brad Davis Interview

YouTube - Pre-Race Interview with Porsche Driver, Cory Friedman

 

I love our '06 Mini S, but that does not mean that I'd compare it in any way to a 911 in terms of performance.

 

Yep, I was battling with the mini guys on FB who are pretty fanatical about their car. Its a lifestyle, its a family, its fun fun fun, bang for the buck, etc... They seemed to think that by racing in a parking lot the odds would favor the "more nimble" mini. After the loss the bang for the buck and fun factor talk started again.

 

The interview video with the mini driver said a street car wasn't safe at 125 mph and 80 to 90 mph in the corners in a stock car; that's why they didn't do the road course. Please.

Just read this from the American Leman Series post on Facebook ..."Here's the part I'm not supposed to tell you...they ran the race FOUR times. The first three times (I think, I'm getting this from a source) the Porsche smoked the Mini by at least five seconds. "



MINI USA | Facebook

 

Here's the video...

Videos Posted by MINI USA: Jun 21, 2010 7:00pm | Facebook

 

Mini=gay because of this challenge

 

Thank God the Mini lost.

Do you have any idea how annoying the mini crowd would be tooting their "better than Porsche" horns? phew

 

I have not watched the videos yet but plan to when I get home from work. I'm still VERY confused on why this race even took place...? If I worked for Porsche, I'd be insulted for even having the challenge. I have nothing against Mini but I don't understand. I guess I just need to watch the videos!

 

I read an announcement from Porsche turning the challenge down. I presume it was a privately-owned 911 they grabbed for this event?

 

It was, MINI organised the Carrera S and the driver because Porsche refused to take part.

MINI would have done so much better to ask Top Gear (or similar) to run this kind of challenge, that way neither brand would have been harmed by this kind of stunt.