Home > Articles/Links > Autocross Car Setup Guide > MINI Cooper S (2002-2006) Home > MINI Cooper Race Gear > Autocross Setup Guide: MINI Cooper S (2002-2006) MINI Cooper S (2002-2006), SCCA G Stock The MINI Cooper S is the car-to-have for SCCA G Stock autocross. The 2005 model got a slight horesepower increase along with a limited slip differential, so these later cars are definitely preferred by autocrossers. Here are some modifications we recommend for competing in the SCCA G Stock class... Tires: The best tires choices for a G Stock MINI S appear to be the Kumho V710 and the Hoosier A6. The V710's are very fast, but, not as precise as the Hoosier A6's and you sometimes have to guess on turn-in for very fast slaloms and need to turn-in before the mid-line of the next slalom cone. If you can afford the Hoosiers, they are slightly faster with significantly better precision on turn-in compared to the V710's. Kumho ECSTA V710 (215/40/16) Hoosier A6 (205/45/16) Wheels: You will find the majority of serious MINI S autocrossers using the SSR Competition wheels (now called Type C). At 11lbs, these are probably the lightest available. Another popular option seems to be the Rota Slipstreams. SSR Competition Wheels (now called Type C) (16x6.5 / +44 offset / 11lbs) Rota Slipstreams (16x6.5 / 13.5-14lbs Interior: The MINI's factory seats are not the most supportive, so one of your best upgrades would be a harness belt like the Schroth Rallye 4 Quick Fit. These will make a HUGE difference over the factory seat belts. Schroth Rallye 4 MINI Quick Fit Harness Belt Suspension: The factory suspension on the MINI is pretty good right out of the box, but adjustable dampers like the Koni Sports will make a significant improvement. Koni Sport Shock Swaybars: Swaybar choice for the MINI S is really course dependant. Its probably best to start off testing with the stock 24mm swaybar for any given surface for a few events. If ANY wheelspin is present, the 22.5mm regular MINI Cooper swaybar will help and may eliminate the wheelspin depending on the surface. The 22.5mm swaybar is preferred over the 24mm swaybar for slick asphalt because it allows for earlier acceleration out of sweepers on a slick surface compared. On a concrete surface or a sticky asphalt surface, this may not be necessary depending on the given course features. Exhaust: The Milltek exhaust has shown to be the best "dual" sided exhaust for the MINI due to its light weight and good power/torque production. For a single-sided exhaust, a good choice is the Supertrapp 2.5" adjustable exhaust. These are very lightweight (less than 20lbs) and you can tune it for the autocross events by adding/removing disc's (a stock class MINI seems to make the most power with 8 disc's in place). Milltek exhaust Supertrapp S/C Elite Miscellaneous: Front/Rear autocross alignment K&N or similar replacement air filter for optimal air flow Nololgy Hotwire plug wires Denso Irridium Plugs Hawk HP Plus Brake Pads Other Tips: The Hoosier A6 tires and Kumho V710 tires like to remain cooler rather than hot, so a garden sprayer is a good idea even during slightly warm events. After each run, spray the tires for several minutes, especially the fronts. With the Hoosier A6's, you'll even want to keep them as cool as possible before your first run since they heat up extremely fast on course. Between each run, open the Bonnet (hood) and spray the intercooler/radiator with ice water to allow for maximum HP for every run. The cooler the intercooler the better... dyno's have shown a 10hp increase with a cool intercooler compared to a hot intercooler.               WARNING! - Motor racing is extremely hazardous, injury or death can occur. No warranty is made or implied regarding any product sold by Devo Tech, Inc. / SoloRacer.com to protect users from injury or death. The user assumes all risks. Please read the rest of our Legal Disclaimer before ordering. Our on-line store is up and running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We use Yahoo! Secure Servers for all transactions so you can shop with confidence. If you are uncomfortable purchasing online, try our printable order form, or email us for more ordering options. Neohio Region SCCA |  Akron Sports Car Club |  Team SoloRacer.com |  Corbeau USA ©Copyright 2002-2007 by Devo Tech, Inc.