MINI USA Makes a Comeback: Revving Up for the 2026 ARA Season

MINI USA is gearing up for an exciting 2026 American Rally Association season, making a comeback to factory-backed rally competition in North America. Collaborating with LAP Motorsports, MINI will participate as The John Cooper Works Race Team, showcasing a John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 in the Limited 4-Wheel Drive class and a 2-door Cooper S in the Open 2-Wheel Drive class.

The action kicks off this weekend with the Sno*Drift Rally in Atlanta, Michigan (February 6-7), following limited regional appearances last year. The team will be led by Luis Perocarpi driving the Countryman and Cristian Perocarpi in the Cooper S, both bringing valuable rally experience to the table, including Luis’s involvement in the 2025 Nemadji Trail Winter Rally.

Kate Alini, MINI USA’s head of marketing, product, and strategy, expressed enthusiasm for the brand’s reconnection with rally heritage after successful trials in regional races last year. The decision to commit to a full season was driven by competitive performance and fan interest.

MINI’s rich rally history sets the stage for an exciting season, with the original Mini Cooper S clinching victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in the 1960s against more powerful competitors. The modern MINI ALL4 also made its mark in the Dakar Rally through the 2010s.

Both the Cooper and Countryman will undergo minimal modifications to meet ARA rules, relying primarily on their factory performance capabilities.

The 2026 ARA National Championship Schedule promises thrilling competition across diverse terrains, with eight events scheduled from February to October. The season opener, Sno*Drift Rally, features challenging snow and ice-covered forest roads in northern Michigan, attracting top talent from the US and Canada.

Remaining events on the calendar include the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood in Salem/Potosi, Missouri, the Olympus Rally in Shelton, Washington, the Southern Ohio Forest Rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, Rally Colorado in Rangely, Colorado, the Ojibwe Forests Rally in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the Overmountain Rally Tennessee in Newport, Tennessee, and the Lake Superior Performance Rally in Marquette, Michigan.

Get ready for a thrilling season of rally action as MINI USA returns to the forefront of competitive racing in North America.