Northern Ireland News - Competition: Your chance to drive a Mini Cooper S in Barcelona!

21 August 2002

Competition: Your chance to drive a Mini Cooper S in Barcelona!

Mini Adventure…Unveiled at this summer’s Tokyo Motor Show, the Mini Cooper S has already established itself as a fashion icon for a new generation of style conscious motorists. Back in the sixties, they dominated the Monte Carlo Rally, were driven by celebs, (John Lennon, Steve Mc Queen) and immortalised in my favourite heist movie ‘The Italian Job’. Now the famous ‘S’ badge and distinctive white roof adorn a muscle bound Bavarian beast, delivering an amazing 163bhp from its 1600cc supercharged BMW engine.

With a claimed top-end of a 135mph and sports-tuned suspension, Cooper drivers are in for an exciting ride. A far cry from my old banger, which felt like driving a dodgem car while stirring a pot of lumpy porridge with a poker, your arse literally inches from the tarmac (which was clearly visible through the rust hole in the floor pan). If like me, you have a soft spot for the old, but lust after the luxury of the new, then why not try out this novel marketing idea from the manufacturers?

Two lucky winners from Ireland will join teams from 17 other European countries, for an elaborate five-day treasure hunt in Barcelona this November. The prize includes flights, food, accommodation, E200 daily spending money and a spanking new Mini Cooper S to belt around in. Your mission: to recover a stolen art treasure. Austin Powers, eat your heart out!

The picture in question was specially commissioned by BMW from acclaimed American artist Peter Halley. The clues to its whereabouts are contained in another specially commissioned work by award winning crime novelist Val McDermid (Kate Brannigan and Lindsay Gordon thrillers). ‘Mission Mini’ will be published on Aug. 29th but here at the Big List office, we’ve already had a sneak preview. Each book contains an application form and to enter the competition you must be over 18 with a full current driving licence, valid for the next twelve months. For further details check out www.MissionMINI.com

A.T.