UBER-STARS sign THEmselves into HISTORY!

Paul Mercurio, Leanne Tander and Jason Bargwanna today marked the start of a very special weekend for MINI CHALLENGE with the unveiling of the UBER-STAR CAR’s new livery at Sandown, the fourth round of the Series, which will see 19 cars front the starter – the biggest field in Australia yet.

Bargwanna, Tander and Mercurio are three of the five drivers who have become UBER-STAR alumni – the other two being former Wallaby Ben Tune and MOTOR Magazine journalist, Shaun Cleary.

The program is designed to bring a new focus to MINI CHALLENGE by engaging personalities from the areas of sports, entertainment or media.

The somewhat unconventional design on the UBER-STAR CAR has been wrapped using printed vinyl technology by Melbourne company, Decently Exposed, and the ‘pinboard’ design by Badjar Ogilvy makes the UBER-STAR CAR vibrant and irreverent and represents the fun of the brand.

The ‘Pinboard’ also provides space for not one sponsor or driver’s name, but many. The MINI CHALLENGE UBER-STAR CAR has become moving communication.

This weekend, the 19 competitors – including Mercurio in the UBER-STAR CAR – are chasing down Seven Network personality, Grant Denyer, who leads the Series by 12 points in his DecoRug Motorsport machine from Neil McFadyen (M3 Motorsport).

The field hopes Denyer’s run will be thwarted by the 40kg in success ballast he is carrying. Others carrying success ballast include McFadyen (35kg), Nathan Geier (Sherrin Rentals - 10kg) and Paul Stokell (DecoRug Motorsport – 5kg).

Bargwanna loved his UBER-STAR opportunity at Eastern Creek, he has returned to the Series, bringing cousin Scott with him in a two car team from this weekend. The Trivett Classic MINI Garage team has been busy since finalising the deal just this Monday.

Last night, MINI welcomed MINI CHALLENGE and the brand new John Cooper Works range of road cars to Australia with a magnificent launch party in Port Melbourne attended by over 300 people.

Current Series leader, Grant Denyer expressed his joy at driving the fantastic machines to the assembled throng.

"Just when you think you can’t go any deeper towards a corner without getting on the brakes, the car surprises you – it pulls up on a dime," he enthused. "You have to unhinge your brain and almost shut your eyes some times – you just don’t think the car can do what it does! They are magnificent, but I reckon I’m only leading the Series at the moment because I can’t reach the brake pedal! The strategy has worked so far, so I hope to keep it going!"

Practice will start tomorrow morning at 9:00am for MINI CHALLENGE with the first session on track and qualifying will be at 11:30am.

The three UBER-STARs enjoying some MINI-style fun!!

1. Grant Denyer – 444

2. Neil McFadyen – 432

3. Paul Stokell – 345

4. Paul Fiore – 330

5. Nathan Geier – 330

6. Gary Young – 288

7. Todd Fiore – 198

8. David Turner – 180

9. Damien White – 156

10. Nathan Callaghan – 138

Round 1: March 7-9 – Eastern Creek, Sydney, NSW (Round Winner: Neil McFadyen)

Round 2: April 4-6 – Wakefield Park, Goulburn, NSW (Round Winner: Nathan Geier)

Round 3: May 9-11 – Barbagallo, Perth, WA (Round Winner: Damien White)

Round 4: June 7-9 – Sandown, Melbourne, Vic

Round 5: September 12-14 – Phillip Island, Vic

Round 6: October 9-12 – Mount Panorama, Bathurst, NSW

Round 7: November 21-23 – Symmons Plains, Tasmania

Round 8: December 4-7 – Oran Park, Sydney, NSW

-Matt Payne- also photos