The 2004 John Cooper Challenge calendar has been released, covering a 12-round season at nine different venues. With a sell-out 30-car field already confirmed, the Challenge is set for another cracking season which includes the championship debut of the new Works MINI Cooper S.

As before, the season kicks off with two speed events – a sprint at Lydden and a hillclimb at Wiscombe Park – before switching to the race action. Seven weekends of racing, including three double-headers, will deliver fast and furious action for the two-class championship.

Ten examples of the 200bhp, 140mph Works Cooper S will compete in the MINI S Class Championship, running alongside 20 of the existing cars in the MINI Clubsport Championship, thus ensuring full grids at every event.

As in 2003, the calendar includes a double-header at Croix-en-Ternois in Northern France in July, while other double-headers will be major attractions at MINI Festivals at Castle Combe and Silverstone.

The full calendar is as follows:

Round 1 10 Apr Lydden Sprint

Round 2 25 Apr Wiscombe Park Hillclimb

Round 3 15/16 May Donington Park Race

Rounds 4/5 31 May Castle Combe Double header race

Rounds 6/7 10/11 Jul Croix-en-Ternois Double header race

Rounds 8/9 7/8 Aug Silverstone Double header race

Round 10 28/29 Aug Rockingham Race

Round 11 11 Sep Oulton Park Race

Round 12 16/17 Oct Brands Hatch Race