HANSFORD, SETON AND BARGWANNA TO RACE MINI CHALLENGE SUPERGP

Their names are synonymous with Australian Motor Racing folklore and they'll be associated with an iconic worldwide legend later this month at the 2009 NIKON SuperGP as they contest (the third last round) Round Six of the 2009 MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers.

Ryan Hansford, Glenn Seton and Scott Bargwanna will each line up at the popular Surfers Paradise event in their potent MINI Challenge John Cooper Works R56 racecars in a field bursting with potential winners.

27-year-old Ryan Hansford is the son of legendary late Motorcycle and Touring Car superstar Gregg Hansford and he'll be making his MINI Challenge debut on the streets of the Gold Coast.

"My brother Rhys raced V8 Utes for a while there on the V8 Supercar calendar and now I'm really excited about racing in the MINI Challenge at the NIKON SuperGP," admits the Brisbane based second generation racer.

The carpenter by trade lives in Bardon (Brisbane) is already chiselling his way into the record books with four round wins from five starts in the popular Gemini series held in Queensland.

"My challenge will be to learn the handling of a front wheel drive car in a short space of time," he concedes, "but I've certainly studied the SuperGP track and I'm really excited about taking part."

Ryan took part in the recent MINI Challenge Roadshow at Queensland Raceway – an initiative designed to attract potential series contestants to the remaining rounds.

"I really enjoyed my time in the car that day," he recalls, "the cars handle tremendously and they'll be an exciting prospect around the streets of Surfers."

Hansford will join legendary Australian Touring and V8 Supercar champion Glenn Seton and former Bathurst category winner Scott Bargwanna as names instantly identifiable with the SuperGP crowd.

"It's pretty amazing to consider that these three names, which mean so much to the Australian motorsport public, will be all in the one round of MINI Challenge," says category rights agency director Ted Toleman (Toleman Motorsport), "we're very excited about having young Ryan make his debut with us."

All three of the entrants have famous fathers who had a significant following with the motorsport fans of their time.

Ryan Hansford is keen to saddle up in his potent John Cooper Works (JCW) R56 and is supported by Fantasea Cruises, Brett's Wharf, Cuisine Kitchens and Duce Timber Windows and Doors.

Round Six of the 2009 MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers, will be held at the NIKON SuperGP on November 22-25, 2009.

It coincides with the 50th anniversary of MINI in motoring and motorsport.