Ok, this year I am going to drive the Mini instead of the Vette at the autocrosses. Since it seems to drive a little bit different than the Vette
( Really large under statement ) I am looking for some advise on how to drive the Mini vs the Vette.

What is a good RPM to launch at?

The Mini S is stock so I assume it is an open diff.

Help

Reb

 

I don't have much experience with autocross.....but I'm used to small block "muscle cars" like vettes, and camaros. I have a MCS, and it's a whole different animal. It's lighter, but doesn't have the low-end grunt like I'm used to. I can enter corners faster, but I don't have as much power to drive out of them as fast. I think with a mini you have to use it's ability to drive faster into corners to your advantage...and the ability to brake later while going into a corner. My mini handles better than any car I 've ever driven. Launching a mini is probably going be better at higher rpms...because you want to be into the boost soon.......so you can actually have some power.

I wish I could give you more advice.....

 

I think the key things will be to:
"drive it like you stole it"

and

"don't brake until you see God"
and then maybe wait a bit longer

I'm in the same boat - lots of autox experience in Camaro's and Vettes and then moved to open track and competitive spec class road racing.

Sold all my race cars and my street vette. So I plan to do some autox with a MCS we just picked up myself. I have never raced or autoxed a FWD car, so this will be interesting. Although I did run a track day or two in an Evo which isn't far off from FWD. Slow in fast out of corners in that. I'm thinking mini is more of a momentum car - as fast in as you can stand, some trailbraking to rotate the car because you can't steer it with the throttle like we are used to in RWD cars - especially ones with tq and limited slip diffs.

Probably wouldn't hurt to get some ride along time with a fast FWD driver in his / her car. That can teach you a lot right there.