MINI John Cooper Works GP 3 DCL dAHLer Competition Line

GP – a now-mainstream combination of letters that still sends a tingle of excitement down the spine
of any motorsport fan. It is commonly known as the abbreviation for Grand Prix, the crème de la
crème of elite motorsport circuit races. MINI has appropriated this history-steeped abbreviation for
the sporting spearhead of its Cooper model range, which boasts a long and illustrious history of its
own. Since 2020, MINI has used the abbreviation “GP” for the track-optimized special edition based
on the three-door MINI John Cooper Works in its third generation.
The MINI John Cooper Works GP 3 – as the model is unofficially but widely known – rolled off
production lines and onto the road in spring last year in a limited run of just 3,000 units. In contrast
to “normal” JCW MINIs, the GP 3 has a variant of the turbocharged B48 four-cylinder engine under
the hood offering a souped-up 306 hp, plus an optimized oil circulation and cooling system, a
model-specific sports exhaust system, and a newly designed suspension complete with exclusive
configuration options. And, of course, the GP 3 comes fitted with a robust sports braking system.
Visually, the MINI John Cooper Works GP 3 puts its performance potential on the line with a
chunky wing, striking extensions and eye-catching forged rims.
The team at dAHLer Competition Line, which specializes in optimizing BMWs and MINIs, gave the
GP 3 an extensive upgrade package that makes this small-caliber bullet even faster and more
focused on its target.
Thanks to the performance upgrades from dAHLer, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine now sends
335 hp and 510 Nm down the powertrain (series: 306 hp / 450 Nm) – which can now be translated
entirely into thrust, following the removal of the factory-set Vmax limit. As a result, the MINI JCW
GP 3 “DCL dAHLer Competition Line” can reach speeds of around 265 km/h. The Swiss tuning
specialists have also fitted an Eventuri carbon-fiber intake system that optimizes the oxygen supply
into the turbocharged engine. The dAHLer upgrades also include a stainless steel twin-exhaust
system developed in house, which comes complete with CAN bus-controlled exhaust valves. The
ceramic-coated 114-millimeter tailpipes turn the MINI’s punchy sound into an even more striking
roar and rumble.
Legal aspects have not been neglected, either: the drive system upgrades from dAHLer
Competition Line have all been WLTP-E6d-tested and homologated for the EU and Switzerland,
both individually and in all possible combinations.
Official blessing has also been granted for the performance coilover suspension “built by dAHLer”,
which allows independent adjustment of the compression and rebound damping. As a result, the
setup of this MINI John Cooper Works GP 3 can be tailored even more precisely to its current
challenge, the track conditions, and its driver’s feel and preferences.