The first Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works GP was produced in 2006 to mark the end of the first generation of the Mini developed by BMW. Only 2,000 were produced.

Mini is bringing the GP name back in 2012, in the same limited amount, with the cars arriving at dealerships later this year.

The Mini JCW GP gets an exclusive powertrain, chassis and aero technology directly from motorsport. It gets large front and rear aprons, lower side skirts, a roof spoiler and a rear diffuser that smoothes turbulence on the underbody.

Final power figures and pricing will be announced closer to launch, along with the volume allocated for the United States. The last Mini GP delivered 214 hp; we expect that much or more from this car.

We do know that new Mini GP made its way around the Nürburgring's Nordschliefe circuit in just 8 minutes, 23 seconds, which makes it the fastest factory-produced Mini ever. Additionally, that time puts the car in good company. Just above it on the Wikipedia lap-time list is the E46 BMW M3, and below it are the 2008 Lotus Exige S and the older Jaguar XKR.

The Mini John Cooper Works GP will be unveiled publicly for the first time this weekend at Le Castellet in France during the Mini United festival.

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