MINI JCW Rally Team Competes at Overmountain Rally in Tennessee

MINI‘s John Cooper Works Race Team arrives at the Overmountain Rally in Newport, Tennessee, for round seven of the 2026 American Rally Association National Championship, marking a critical stretch in the brand’s rookie campaign on American soil. The event takes place within the rugged environment of the Cherokee National Forest, where crews handle surfaces that demand precision and resilience.

Overmountain Rally Preview

The rally covers 100 competition miles and 160 transit miles across varied terrain including smooth gravel, clay-slick sections, and brief tarmac with steep elevation changes. The centerpiece is Newport Speedway, a high-banked oval that serves as both paddock and host to a stadium-style Super Special stage run under lights on mixed surfaces.

LAP Motorsports continues fielding the same two-car program that has competed all season: a John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 in the Limited 4 Wheel Drive class and a John Cooper Works 2-Door in Open 2 Wheel Drive. David and Drew Quillen return to the 2-Door, while Luis Perocarpi teams with Mark Wells in the Countryman.

Rookie Season Results So Far

MINI announced its full-season ARA push in February with confident framing typical of manufacturer entries before proving anything on track. Seven rounds later, results back that up with class podiums at the season-opening Sno*Drift Rally in Michigan snow and again at Rally Colorado in July.

All podiums came in cars staying close to factory specification under ARA’s minimal-modification rules. Perocarpi noted the vehicles have “proven their performance, durability, and competitiveness,” reflecting a season of consistent finishes rather than isolated results.

Dealer Integration Program

Four technicians from the MINI dealer network are selected for each race to work the pits alongside the LAP crew, creating a direct connection between the retail side and racing effort. This low-cost approach provides hands-on experience that differs from typical marketing exercises involving dealer staff at track days.

Heritage and Future Outlook

MINI’s marketing leans heavily on Monte Carlo Rally wins from 1964, 1965, and 1967 when discussing motorsport involvement. The classic Mini Cooper S, built by John Cooper from Alec Issigonis’s space-efficient city car, genuinely outran more powerful competitors on tight, icy mountain roads.

After Overmountain, one round remains: the Lake Superior Performance Rally on October 9-10 in Marquette, Michigan. Two podiums with two rounds still to run represents a solid rookie-year return, and a top-step finish in either Tennessee or Michigan would validate the program extends beyond a single-season marketing exercise.