KEY POINTS:
The highlight of the inaugural Mini Challenge was the fun drivers and teams had, despite the raw-edged racing.
"It was a great atmosphere from the beginning of the season to the end," said championship winner Eddie Bell.
"While I personally had some highs and lows, the camaraderie between drivers and team supporters was great. Teams helped each other repair damaged cars and share suspension set-up problems. That's not done in other racing series."
Known as Fast Eddie, National RX-7 champion Bell found himself acclimatising quickly to the front-wheel-drive 145kW supercharged Mini Cooper S car, fitted with a John Cooper Works racing brakes and suspension kit and an aerodynamic package.
"It took a bit of time but once I found my rhythm there was no turning back," said Bell. "I did get a bit nervous towards the end of the season as my points differential over Brett Collins got slimmer as he found his pace."
Former Toyota Racing series champion Collins finished second and German driver Peter Sharmach was third. Sharmach's baby blue Mini Cooper S was as much off the track as on, which is the normal style of racing in the European series.
The success of the Mini Challenge in Europe prompted Mini New Zealand to import 20 cars for the 2006/2007 motorsport season.
The racing Mini is practically identical to the road car except for a roll cage, fire extinguisher, the John Cooper Works items and low-profile Dunlop racing slicks.
Former Team Kiwi manager Martin Collins organised the seven-round series which saw 17 cars on the grid at Pukekohe, Taupo, Ruapuna, Timaru, Teretonga, Manfeild and back to Pukekohe for the finale.
