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Celebrities to star in MINI's 'hot' challenge
At the Australian GP


Tennis 'great' Pat Rafter; the pin-up princess of Italy Megan Gale; Olympic speed skating gold medallist Steven Bradbury; world renowned Jazz musician James Morrison and actor Vince Colosimo are just some of the national and international stars of show business, media and sport who will 'shine' in a new field next month - behind the wheel of one of the world's 'hottest' small vehicles - the MINI Cooper - and on one of the world's best racing tracks, the Albert Park circuit.

In all, 26 celebrities will share their 'racing debut' in the nimble and super-quick MINI Coopers, putting them through their paces in the 2003 MINI Celebrity Challenge in the lead-up to the 2003 Foster's Australian Grand Prix. Among the other stars to line up in this year's MINI Celebrity Challenge will be……

Italian model and boyfriend of Megan Gale, Marzio Canevarolo; Australia's most valued netballer Liz Ellis, world champion buttlerfly swimmer Petria Thomas; Davis Cup and international tennis star Sandon Stolle; former AFL stars Peter Daicos (Collingwood) and Stephen Silvagni (Carlton) and the Face of Foster's for the 2003 Foster's Australian Grand Prix, Grace McClure.




The full line-up of the team will be announced over the following weeks in the lead-up to the MINI Celebrity Challenge which will see them in action on the track on 7, 8 and 9 March. BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Franz Sauter, said today that the MINI Cooper would prove an even greater attraction at this year's event as sales of the vehicle had soared since it was released on the Australian market last year. The MINI Cooper made its return to the international racing circuit last year at the MINI Celebrity Challenge at the same time it was released on to the local market.

"The MINI Cooper takes the reputation of the MINI to a new dimension in the sport and this has been reflected in the enthusiasm of the market," said Mr Sauter.

The celebrities will experience this new dimension in the John Cooper Works specially prepared MINI Coopers for the race. The vehicles have been modified for racing purposes and they are guaranteed to provide the stars with a 'go-kart-like' racing experience they will never forget. It will be pure driving excitement for them and the fans. However, just to ensure the celebrities do not get too carried away behind the wheel, they will undergo an intensive week of tuition in the BMW Driver Training Program before competing in the race.

Chief instructor, Le Mans and Bathurst winning race driver, Geoff Brabham will put all the drivers through their paces and ensure they are not only competitive, but also have a sound knowledge of the safety requirements of racing. The driver training will take place at the Sandown Race Track in the week leading up to the 2003 Foster's Australian Grand Prix. Following that, the drivers will get their first taste of the famous Albert Park Grand Prix track on Friday, 7 March before Sunday's MINI Celebrity Challenge.

BMW Group Australia has been involved with the Australian Grand Prix's Celebrity Challenge for the last four years with the celebrities setting a milestone in the history of the MINI last year with its return to international racing after an absence of over two decades. MW Group Australia is the official vehicle supplier to the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, covering medical intervention, course cars, safety cars, FIA stewards, CAMS officials and motorcycles for boundary riders. The company is also the supplier of official vehicles to the 2003 Trading Post Grand Prix Rally.

The Celebrities to line up for the 2003 MINI Celebrity Challenge include:
1. Pat Rafter, former world No.1 tennis champion and two-time US Open winner
2. Megan Gale, international model
3. Marzio Canevarolo, Italian model
4. Vince Colosimo, Actor, Secret Life of Us, Network 10
5. James Morrison, international jazz musician
6. Katie Underwood, singer/TV presenter and ex Bardot
7. Steven Bradbury, Australian's first Winter Olympics gold medallist - short track speed skating
8. John Paul Young, singer
9. Liz Ellis, Australian netballer
10. Petria Thomas, Australian swimmer
11. Stephen Silvagni, former AFL Carlton footballer & Network 10 commentator
12. Grace McClure, Face of Foster's
13. Sandon Stolle, Tennis professional & David Cup squad member
14. Peter Daicos, former AFL Collingwood footballer & Network 10 commentator
15. Geoff ***, Postcards presenter, Channel 9
16. Corinne Grant, comedian, rove[live] Network 10
17. Peter Helliar, comedian, rove[live] Network 10
18. Sami Lukis, weather presenter Today show, Channel 9
19. Angela Bishop, entertainment reporter, Network 10
20. Brigitte Duclos, Triple M radio presenter
21. Mieke Buchan, SBS sports reporter and FOX 8 entertainment reporter
22. John Gibbs, 2UE radio guest presenter
23. Darren James, 3AW radio presenter
24. rove[live] 'live lister', Network 10

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hey... i read your post... i'll respond...

 

Cool!! Checkerstripe (seattle mini) and myself ran the track in MX5's there in "Melbin" and we also came in 1st and 2nd place at the "ThunderDome"!!!

I love that place!

 

Celebrities??? I've never even heard of ANY of those people. Must be Aussie celebs.

R

 

What' your problem Davebret? You don't recognize the local radio weather reporter from another continent?

 

Race was canceled after two laps due to carnage and weather!