Published: Aug 15, 2012

World's Fastest Street-Legal Mini Destroys Hockenheim

AC Schnitzer's Raptor is one fierce Mini JCW Coupe.

When it comes to fast Minis, nobody does it better than the crew over at AC Schnitzer. Their latest racer, dubbed the Raptor and based on the John Cooper Works Coupe, destroyed the Hockenheim track over the past weekend during the 2012 Tuner Grand Prix. The Tuner Grand Prix, hosted by German mag Sport Auto, featured 25 tuning companies battling for the best lap times in 16 separate classes.

World's Fastest Street-Legal Mini Destroys Hockenheim

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AC Schnitzer gave the Mini JCW Coupe Raptor an impressive 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, allowing it post a lap time of 1:10.87 on the small track at Hockenheim. The new record-setting time represents a 1.11 second improvement over their build from the previous year, dubbed the Eagle and also based on the Mini JCW. The Sport Auto crew took the Raptor out after the event and ran it on the track by itself, improving on the lap time by another 0.32 seconds. In and of itself, AC Schnitzer's build is an impressive feat. They've added everything from a turbocharger to a stainless-steel exhaust system to an improved intercooler.

Along with a racing-tuned suspension and lightweight race-spec wheels, they have also added plenty of weight saving carbon fiber in the form of a new hood, trunk, doors rear diffuser and wing and more. Total weight is measured at 2,368lbs. The reduced weight combined with the 300hp 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four makes the JCW Coupe Raptor an incredibly quick ride.