615BHP Nissan GTR (R35) VS 280BHP MINI Cooper S (R53) - TOUGEアタック!! Kanjozoku JDM Style MINI

GTR Owner was very modest about how this MINI kept up reasonably well, I'm pretty sure the GTR had much more to give, infact I'm 99.9% certain there was. The MINI however, this was as big as the drivers balls would get on this road on this day, this was the first visit to this touge so many mistakes on gear choice for some corners and not using the brakes to full potential (see * below in description), a tiny bit more relaxed at the start of the reverse run to keep engine temperature safe but not much. The MINI could provide more in the corners with more experience of this road. Still a fun battle. On the straights the MINI has no chance to keep with the GTR, the R35 is way too powerful and has such strong acceleration. Only in the corners can the mini stay with the GTR as it shows the large difference in mass between the cars, the MINI has a 500KG lighter body weight than the GTR.
(Disclaimer I do not own either car, I am not either of the drivers).
*Final specifications and modifications of the Mini at 4:35 - Some differences at the time of this video. was made however:
- MINI had full JCM decat Exhaust system fitted, sport catalyst was fitted later.
- Bilstein PSS B14 dampers and basic geo alignment setup (KW Clubsports fitted later with full geo alignment and corner weight setup)
- Performance Friction brake pad, which were worn (it was needing a brake pad upgrade to * Carbotech XP10 and new fluid at the time of this video).
- GP Aluminum lightened rear trailing arms were not fitted in this video.
- OMP WRC Steering whel not fitted.
External exhaust note sound from 4:35 can be heard. GTR is Litchfield Stage 2/3.

[@darrenlucas2768]

As a fellow r53 owner half way through the process of building I have total respect for what you have created here......you have done a superb job.im after about 240 to 250 ponnies in the end with a chassis to match. You drive well brother, but be a shame to see your potential wasted in a accident so I urge you to real it back in a bit or take it on the track....not a rant, just my age I guess. Thanks for the upload, enjoyed it huge 👍

[@batousan_]

I would agree, this vid is about 7-8 years back and things change, that said, its never pushed more than 7/10ths in this video, lots of lift and coasting coming upto corners and engine braking used in order to not overheat the brakes to leave some margin for error if required. Always take it to a track and find the limits of you and the car so you can dial it back and get a feel for where the margins are.

[@darrenlucas2768]

@@batousan_ like I said bud,no rant....and I'm no Saint....just a bit older and you find yourself saying stuff like that as you start to appreciate life a bit differently. Checked out a few more of you uploads, always good to see worked minis being driven well

[@me-gb2wp]

Amazing and brave and they way to drive a r53

[@darrenlucas2768]

Must ask you though...does the rear sway bar upgrade make it more nervous to lift off oversteer? And the power, does it give it torque steer? I'm currently at about 210hp give or take and as it is now I hardly have any torque steer...the geometry handles it well. But I've always questioned wether more power is needed,it flies as it is. Your car is on cam all of the time....you can see just how well it stays on the power.im running a 82° thermostste to help keep mine running a tad cooler

[@batousan_]

The rear bar, hmm, it depends on your spring rates and setup. I disconnected the front bar completely and ran the biggest bar on hard setting as I liked how it rotated in slow and medium speeds, almost a rwd with a slip diff push in terms of feel. Any fwd is susceptible to lift off oversteer, but yes it will, the key is to get a feel for it and where it happens. The last corner at Snetterton before the bus stop for example, at over 100mph it will start to over rotate if you lift so you need to get back on throttle and keep balancing it. This is great at avoiding understeer tho. You can almost always straighten a fwd car with throttle though so it's not s big deal. I wouldn't say torque steer no, but it will spin the inside front coming out of corners without an lsd. I matched the head, cams, valves, pistons,l compression and boost to achieve that, you can usually overcome dropping off the powerband with the newer 06 spec gearbox ratios though or a different final drive but yeah it was a blast. Oil cooler, oil cooler, oil cooler. If I ever bought another mini it would absolutely be the first mod I do before any track days. Made a massive difference, 45minute all out sessions without getting too hot, amazing difference.

[@Tugboatpb]

@@batousan_ Which brand did you go with? There are several kits I've seen floating around for r53s. Some are relatively inexpensive

[@batousan_]

@@Tugboatpb Hotchkiss 25mm comp.

[@Tugboatpb]

@@batousan_ I should have been more specific, which oil cooler haha. Thank you for that though, I'll also look into getting one of those

[@batousan_]

@@Tugboatpb Haha, no worries. It was a mocal, I honestly can't remember how many rows it was but it ended up roughly around £200 with fittings and take off plate. I didn't fit a thermostat which might be an idea if you use it on the road more though. Given what the oil temps hit on a hot track day then it was so worth the small expense.

[@TheAdamRawks]

Someone's missing Mini life..

[@batousan_]

Haha, theres reason why this footage is only surfacing now... ;-). But if anything, I'm just missing driving in general. For thrills, a 300+ hp Subaru, awd with front and rear LSD, brembos and inverted monotube dampers, straight pipe and 4.7" hks muffler is serving me pretty well. Makes me wonder what all this GR Yaris hype is about... xD

[@Fordfocusstmk3250]

Bro how low is the front springs you got? I wana lower mine but I don't wana do to low cus cornering etc

[@batousan_]

KW Clubsport Coilovers, not sure what spring rate/lengths they are though. Low car doesn't mean bad cornering, cheapshit coilovers (maxspeeding) or lowering springs on OE dampers and a poor, unplanned overall setup are where people go wrong. The dampers I had did a 7:38:12 BTG in another car (Krumm- Performance MINI) with similar power so I'd recommed them 100% even at the high price they are worth it. Buy once and do it properly.

[@Fordfocusstmk3250]

@@batousan_ that's so true, thankyou so much for replying mate!! Hope your well

[@Fordfocusstmk3250]

Do you reckon it's a gd idea for a decat? Lol

[@batousan_]

@@Fordfocusstmk3250 depends, if your cat is falling apart inside and you don't want the expense of a new one then probably. If you want to pass a noise test for any UK track day then (depending on rear muffler you have) probably not. I went decat and back, didn't really gain anything on the dyno or on the road other than more noise and faff come MOT time.

[@Fordfocusstmk3250]

Oh so u can't go track with decat?? Damn didn't no that.. Haven't had mine on dyno but it has exhaust, 17 pulley belt, airtec intercooler k&n filter and a carbon clean, what wud u say on experience u reckon for bhp?