The MINI Challenge race series will make its debut in Saudi Arabia next year in a bid to become the most exciting motor sport category in the Kingdom. The championship is expected to start in February with a 16-car grid of purpose-built MINI John Cooper Works Challenge race cars.

The series will consist of six rounds, each made up of two 20-minute races. Entries will be made up of experienced drivers, as well as budding racers, each putting forward a generous SAR250,000 ($ 66k) for the car, entry to the race series and full support in every round.

Each Challenge car has a 1.6-litre 211bhp engine under its little bonnet, giving it an acceleration time of 0-100kph in 6.1sec and a top speed of 240kph. The interior is stripped-out and includes an FIA-approved roll cage. The more experienced of the pack will make  use of the adjustable suspension and rear wing to gain a few extra tenths. Races should prove interesting, as the grid for the top six finishers in the first race is reversed for the second race.

The Bison MINI Cup has already been running in Saudi Arabia, with 10 teams taking part in each round, but the series had been locally-organised.  The new championship promises to create a more prominant and competitive series.

The MINI Challenge series first started nine years ago in the UK (top right) but now runs in Germany, Australia, Spain and New Zealand. It also ran in Bahrain in 2006 using 126bhp MINI Cooper Club Sports.

‘This is another crucial milestone in the young history of Saudi motorsport,’ said Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Faisal, Chairman of ProRace, organiser of the series. ‘It shows the great potential in the Kingdom for professional racing and we hope to encourage talented motorsport enthusiasts to achieve their potential.’