MINI to have a world premiere and some special models at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed.

• World premiere of MINI Seven, the first design model of current generation
• Unveiling of brand new UK-only model, MINI John Cooper Works Challenge
• The fastest production car exclusively built for UK market will go up the Hill climb along with the MINI Challenge Race Car
• MINI ambassadors, Harry Hunt and Charlie Butler-Henderson available for interviews on MINI stand throughout the weekend
• 3D virtual exhibit showcasing the MINI VISION NEXT 100 vehicle, developed to celebrate 100 Years of BMW Group

The world premiere of the first MINI design model of the current generation will take pride of place on the MINI stand at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

MINI Seven, inspired by classic Mini heritage fused with modern design and technology, will be on display for the very first time from 23-26th June and will showcase specially designed exterior and interior looks unseen before on this generation’s model line-up.

Joining MINI Seven on the stand will be the new MINI John Cooper Works Challenge, developed exclusively by a specialised team of racing drivers at Plant Oxford for the UK market.

Based on the ultimate performance MINI, John Cooper Works Hatch, and inspired by the MINI Challenge Race car, the MINI John Cooper Works Challenge takes performance to a new level, while also offering a thrilling on-road driving experience without sacrificing everyday comforts and refinement.

As well as experiencing the latest production models, visitors to the MINI stand at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2016 will be able to interact with a 3D virtual exhibit showcasing the MINI VISION NEXT 100 vehicle.   Developed to celebrate 100 Years of BMW Group and show the brand's vision for mobility of the future, the MINI VISION NEXT 100 will be revealed at the Roundhouse, Camden, London on 16th June.

Elsewhere at the festival, Dakar driver, Harry Hunt will be on hand with the MINI ALL4 Racing car, which he drove to finish 10th in his debut Dakar race this year. MINI Challenge racing driver, Charlie Butler-Henderson will also be driving the new MINI John Cooper Works Challenge up the iconic Goodwood hill.

For those wishing to try their hand at racing themselves, the MINI stand also has its very own MINI Challenge Racing Experience. Budding amateur drivers can use the virtual driving experience to pit themselves against their friends driving the MINI Challenge race car.

MINI UK is proud to announce British racing driver, Charlie Butler-Henderson, 37, as a new brand ambassador.

MINI UK is proud to announce British racing driver, Charlie Butler-Henderson, 37, as a new brand ambassador. 

2016 will represent the first time Butler-Henderson competes as a MINI ambassador but he is in no way new to the track. He has driven in the British Touring Car Championship, MINI CHALLENGE 2015, Ginetta G50 Cup and the Trofeo Abarth 500 Great Britain.

Butler-Henderson has racing in his blood, coming from a long line of motorsport heritage. His father, Guy, was a member of the British karting team; his Grandfather, Lionel, raced cars for racing legend Fraser Nash, and his sister Vicki, TV presenter on 5th gear and Top Gear, is known as the first woman to win a Maserati race at age 30 in the Maserati Trofeo support race at the British F1 GP in 2002.

Butler-Henderson joins the MINI racing team, participating in seven MINI CHALLENGE events this season, starting on 23rd April at Donington Park. The MINI CHALLENGE is a series of races held at some of the UK’s most iconic tracks - Brands Hatch GP, Donington, Oulton Park, Silverstone and Snetterton - where fans of MINI and can tear around the circuits in the newest specially developed MINI John Cooper Works race cars. Charlie currently holds the 2015 MINI CHALLENGE Championship title, crossing the finishing line within two seconds of his competitors.

Catch Charlie and all the action on Channel 4 next month when the MINI CHALLENGE series makes its debut with a thirty minute programme offering petrol heads some of the most exciting and thrill-a-minute racing in the UK.

Commenting on the new partnership, Butler-Henderson says, “This is a very exciting year for me and I am honoured to be working with MINI; it is a dream come true. I am looking forward to putting my Union Jack MINI JCW to the test at Donington Park in two weeks and hope to retain my title.”

Nicolas Griebner, MINI UK Head of Product, “MINI has racing in its DNA so we are really excited to be supporting such a fantastic and charismatic racing driver – I’m looking forward to seeing him in action defending his title throughout the season.”

Charlie will be among the motorsport legends at Goodwood Festival of Speed from 23rd – 26th June, racing up the famous Hillclimb in the MINI CHALLENGE car (twice daily on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.)

When Butler-Henderson is not racing, he has a MINI John Cooper Works Hatch to drive around the UK (pictured above). Launched in 2015, the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch offers premium performance for the road. With a 2.0 litre 4-cylinder engine and TwinPower Turbo Technology, the MINI John Cooper Works achieves top speeds of 153mph and reaches 62mph in 6.3 seconds.