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Said - who will partner Neal in the second Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore in the 1000 - will pilot the MINI CHALLENGE UBER-STAR CAR.

 

Whilst the Californian has never visited Bathurst before - or raced a MINI, he is renowned as a road course specialist in the United States. He was the first American to win the gruelling Nurburgring 24 Hour race in 2005 in a BMW Motorsport BMW M3 GTR.

 

46-year-old Said isn't unfamiliar with the quality workmanship that goes into each MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE racecar, being a franchise holder for the parent company of MINI - BMW - in the USA. MINI CHALLENGE and V8 Supercars will add to the variety of race vehicles he has piloted in his time.

 

Neal is no stranger to Mount Panorama, having competed there on a number of occasions in the past, but attacking the Mountain in a Motorline MINI Garage machine will be a different prospect altogether.

 

The Englishman - from Worcestershire - has taken out two British Touring Car Championships and is well skilled in the elbows out racing needed to succeed in MINI CHALLENGE.

 

Adding a third international angle to the MINI CHALLENGE Mountain assault is the addition of Brent Collins to the field. Collins is a multiple New Zealand Champion and is the reigning New Zealand MINI CHALLENGE Champion. He will have his first taste of MINI CHALLENGE in Australia on the daunting 6.213km course.

 

Quite apart from the International flavour that Said, Neal and Collins will bring to MINI CHALLENGE, the battle for Series honours has been blown wide apart following the unfortunate incident that befell current Series leader, Grant Denyer.

 

Heading into Bathurst, Denyer held a six point lead over Neil McFadyen (MPA Project Builders), however the Seven Network personality will not take part in any further 2008 events following his recent Monster Truck incident, which shattered his L1 vertebrae.

 

McFadyen is poised to take the Series lead, however he will be chased down by a hungry pack - now given further incentive to chase the inaugural MINI CHALLENGE Series win. Taking up the fight for DecoRug Racing will be Nathan Geier, who slots into Denyer's #95 seat and is aiming to advance himself further than his current third placing on Series standings - 63 points from the pinnacle.

 

Although in fifth place, 150 points off the Series lead, with the lottery that Bathurst can provide, DecoRug Racing's lead driver, Paul Stokell can bring himself back into Series contention. Despite a litany of problems over recent rounds, he sits just behind Paul Fiore (Brisbane MINI Garage/Shell Helix Ultra). Fiore will aim for his - and brother Todd's - recent consistent streak to continue.

 

The man they will all be chasing, however is Jason Bargwanna (Matchmaster TV Reception Systems/Trivett Classic MINI Garage) - who will compete in both MINI CHALLENGE and the Supercheap Auto 1000 with Tony d'Alberto in the Bottle-O Commodore.

 

Bargwanna's winning streak has hit six on the trot, but 50kg success ballast is a lot to carry on the long straights of Mount Panorama. By virtue of his winning streak, Bargwanna has brought himself into Series contention. He sits eighth overall 288 points from the Series lead and another clean sweep of the weekend's action will bring him right up in the standings.

 

Jason, along with cousin, Scott, took out class honours in a Toyota Corolla in the 1000 in the early 90s and will be aiming for a MINI CHALLENGE form finish - which has proven elusive thus far.

 

The field is packed full of experienced campaigners around the Mountain course, including Ryan McLeod (Racer Industries) and Tim Leahey (Kings Way MINI Garage) - who make their MINI CHALLENGE debuts - along with Series regulars, Gary Young (Salta Constructions), Beric Lynton (Bruce Lynton MINI Garage), David Turner (Glory Team Racing) and Todd Wanless (Motorline MINI Garage).

 

The Stillwell brothers - Michael and Nick (Bib Stillwell MINI Garage) - will re-acquaint themselves with the Mountain. Michael last raced at Bathurst in 1975 with Geoff Brabham in an Escort RS 1600, whilst Nick has taken on the Mountain twice in historic MINI racecars. Darren Berry (Clipper Motor Yachts) will be another to make his Bathurst debut.

 

With 20 cars confirmed for the fifth round of MINI CHALLENGE, the historic return of MINI to Mount Panorama will be a special occasion for all concerned. MINI dominated the 1966 event, with the first nine places being filled by the iconic machines. Bob Holden and Rauno Aaltonen were the victors that particular day, taking victory by over a lap.

 

Category Manager, Ted Toleman, is impressed with the lineup:

 

"The field that has assembled for MINI CHALLENGE at Bathurst is nothing short of stellar," he said. "To have bona fide international superstars the likes of Boris Said and Matt Neal in the field shows the attraction of this Series. Add to those the New Zealand MINI CHALLENGE Champion in Brent Collins, the regulars from the Australian Series and some very experienced steerers at Bathurst and it is going to be an amazing spectacle. The sight of those 20 MINI racecars flying across the top of the Mountain will be one to behold."

 

All the action from MINI CHALLENGE at Mount Panorama can be watched on the Seven Network's Logie Award winning telecast from next Friday (October 10).