The headline kind of says it all, doesn't it? This is a modern Mini Cooper, lifted for rally competition and fitted with a V8. And not just any V8, but a tiny 2.0-liter made from two Yamaha 1000cc superbike engines joined by a common crankshaft making 300 hp and revving to around 10,000 rpm. It howls.
YouTuber 19Bozzy92 captured this Mini doing its thing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this past summer where, presumably, it was blowing minds. There's something so incongruous about seeing a Mini bouncing around through the dirt, making a noise reminiscent of an old V8 F1 car. It's wrong, and so, so right.
At Goodwood, the driver, Terry Banyard, explained his creation. It was built to run rallies in France, and Banyard says it's very reliable, finishing all 18 races it's been entered in thus far. Unfortunately, there's not a ton more information on the car out there, but that won't stop us from enjoying it.
A car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins served as Road & Track's engineering nerd and Porsche apologist.
