Mini Cooper S (R56) | PH Fleet
Still a hoot on road - what might it be like on track?
Hopefully one or two of you are the same. There are only so many days of Christmas to be endured, so many cold and dark days eating everything and trying to keep children entertained, before I’m thinking about the new year, better weather and automotive adventures. I love the spring and the summer as much as I dislike autumn and winter; similarly, being out and about is almost always preferable to being around the fire. But Christmas does mean some time to think, and with the help of one too many pale ales, it’s obvious - I want to do a track day in the Mini.
We’re incredibly lucky in this line of work to drive some amazing cars on a few of the world’s greatest circuits. It’s the best part of the job, to be honest, especially with so many new performance cars only really offering up their best away from the road. What some new models are capable of in showroom specification is genuinely staggering. Now, I’m patently aware that the Mini wasn’t a track car when new - and won’t be any more of one after 75,000 miles - but I’d really love to see what it could do free from the restrictions of the public highway. And excited to drive fast in a car that's actually my own. Thruxton is the plan, because it’s reasonably close and shouldn’t be an absolute killer on brakes (just tyres and my courage, right?), though nothing is set in stone just yet. It’ll be April for sure, because that’s the month clear for a sabbatical. So if there are any days that spring to mind, fire away.
The more pressing concern for the moment is what to do with the Mini. I don’t have the desire (or anywhere near the money) to make a track car of it; assuming April goes well, it’ll maybe do a couple a year. Whereas every week it’s used as a station car, so something crazy stiff and loud just wouldn’t work. That being said, it needs to be safe (and hopefully not completely rubbish).
Mechanically, I think it’s bob-on. Having the clutch and flywheel replaced last year means the powertrain feels strong and, while Thruxton is of course crazy quick, the little turbo feels punchy enough for the moment. Those Michelin tyres mentioned before are pretty fresh (and very good), with new springs on in 2023 as well. In an ideal world it’d have new dampers, but they’ll have to wait.
I think brakes will be the big thing; I’ve seen plenty of track-prepped Minis on PH, so please shoot with suggestions. Truth be told, there’s nothing amazing about the performance on road after a year and a few thousand miles, so plan of action is pads and fluid as a bare minimum, with potentially some new discs as well. The history I have for the car doesn’t mention recent replacements for any of that stuff, so a track day seems like the ideal excuse to upgrade. If there are certain products you’d recommend, I’m all ears. Or, of course, say something if it’s the daftest plan you’ve ever heard…
We’ve even managed to pick up a bit of motorsport patina before going anywhere near a track. Some kind soul in Reading services seemingly believed that rubbing meant racing even when it came to parking, and scuffed the rear drivers side corner, taking one of the body kit slats with it. Swines. Something to sort at the bodyshop with the wonky window trim and temperamental bonnet latch. Or leave well alone as I wander the slippery slope towards full on, warts-and-all track car build…
FACT SHEET
Car: 2011 Mini Cooper S
Run by: Matt Bird
On fleet since: February 2023
Bought for: £6,400
Mileage: 76,333
Last month at a glance: Time for the track?
Previous reports
- Matt wanted an RX-8 - he ended up with a Mini
- Honeymoon period commences…
- … Honeymoon period finishes
- Freshly Michelin’d Mini much improved!
Always worth having a second set of wheels which you should be able to fit in with the seats folded down. Means you have have some more track suitable tyres and not wreck the road ones, but also have the road ones for use when wet. Also allows you to drive home if you overdo it and wear them out on the day.
Always worth having a second set of wheels which you should be able to fit in with the seats folded down. Means you have have some more track suitable tyres and not wreck the road ones, but also have the road ones for use when wet. Also allows you to drive home if you overdo it and wear them out on the day.
As already mentioned braided likes would be a good shout and decent fluid.
The second set it wheels with track orientated tyres is a good shout too.
None of the above should ruin the car as a daily.
No days yet on MSV for 2024 sadly. Castle combe would be my next choice, apparently again much better suited to lower power things than Thruxton.
No need to mod for occasional days, money is better spent on fixing what is worn / broken. Modding can become a vicious cycle of revealing new week points.
I use a bone stock TF160 that gets the better of a fair few things and is a hoot. Tyres and pads are good for about 3 days.
Beyond this it’s brakes and cooling.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/LqCz7MUU[/url]As already mentioned braided likes would be a good shout and decent fluid.
The second set it wheels with track orientated tyres is a good shout too.
None of the above should ruin the car as a daily.
Always worth having a second set of wheels which you should be able to fit in with the seats folded down. Means you have have some more track suitable tyres and not wreck the road ones, but also have the road ones for use when wet. Also allows you to drive home if you overdo it and wear them out on the day.
Beyond this its brakes and cooling.
In my opinion as long as you have a decent set of road tyres and adjust pressures as the tyres warm you will be much better off.
Brakes wise you should be ok with fresh fluid some better pads, nothing fancy but something that will take the heat. The standard R56 callipers are pretty good ( they used to be the JCW callipers off the R53) if your hoses are due a replacement then sure upgrade to braided lines, but again not essential. One tip is to make sure you turn your ESP off fully, as you will easily kill a set of rears if you leave it on as the ECU will be going mad trying to brake for you.
Finally i would look at the track choice. R56 cooper s will not be best suited to Thruxton. Castle combe would be better choice in that area, or why not try Snetterton. and get some tuition will be much better use of money if you are new too track driving.
R56 is a great choice for tracking but defo treat it to some super
No days yet on MSV for 2024 sadly. Castle combe would be my next choice, apparently again much better suited to lower power things than Thruxton.
No need to mod for occasional days, money is better spent on fixing what is worn / broken. Modding can become a vicious cycle of revealing new week points.
I use a bone stock TF160 that gets the better of a fair few things and is a hoot. Tyres and pads are good for about 3 days.
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