Win a FREE Season in the 2026 Junior MINI Challenge!

Mondello Park are pleased to announce details of the 2026 Junior Mini Scholarship, where one budding racing driver will have the use of a Junior Mini Challenge Car for the 2026 season. The Challenge will be an integral part of the ICCR package and the winner can look forward to unrivalled exposure to fans, media and sponsors throughout their maiden year in car racing.

This fantastic prize available to applicants include:

• Use of a MINI Cooper race car for the 2026 season
• Entry fees for the 2026 season
• Free Motorsport Ireland Licence Course at Mondello Park
• Fees paid for Mondello Park ICCR test days

* Please note that the Junior Mini Challenge winner will receive the use of a car for the 2026 season. All costs associated with preparing, maintaining, and racing the car throughout the season will be the responsibility of the winner. The winner must also arrange their own storage for the vehicle and transport to and from all race events.

There will also be prizes for the 2nd & 3rd place finishers in the scholarship. The runner-up will receive entry fees for the whole season if they compete in the championship. The third-place competitor will receive fees paid for the Mondello Park ICCR test days for the 2026 season if they compete in the championship.

Entry Cost
€150 payable on entry

Date & Venue
The competition is due to take place at Mondello Park on 16th January 2026 at the end of which the winner will be announced.
Entry for the Junior MINI Challenge Scholarship is not open to competitors who have previously competed in the MINI Junior Championship.

Day Format
Each competitor will complete two assessments on the day comprising of a media assessment and a driving assessment with an instructor.

Media
Presenting yourself professionally to the media is an essential skill at all levels of motorsport. The ICCR Mini Challenge will be heavily promoted across all media channels and drivers are often interviewed straight after the race when the adrenaline is pumping, so being able to communicate well and in a likeable but professional manner is a necessary trait.

Driving
Driving is the main part of the assessment for the Scholarship. It is advised that competitors prepare for the driving assessment adequately to give themselves the best possible chance of progressing through the competition. As a minimum, competitors should be able to use a car with a clutch prior to arrival.

All competitors will have a track session alongside a professional instructor in the Mondello Park Mazda 3 cars, during which they will be assessed on the following areas and not solely on lap time:
• Ability to drive safely at speed
• Car control skills
• Ability to change gear
• Willingness to learn from the instructor
• Progression through the sessions

Fitness & Nutrition Seminar
Hosted by Dermot Sheridan, Sports Data Scientist.

Do I need to have my own race kit and racing car for the assessment day?
No. Competitors who do not own their own kit should wear a long-sleeved top, trousers and suitable footwear. Mondello Park will have a limited number of helmets available on the day to borrow. All the cars are provided as part of the competition.

Do I need to have a race licence to take part in the Scholarship?
No. There are no specific licence requirements to take part in the Scholarship.

Do I need to have any specific experience to take part?
No. Competitors are not required to have any specific experience in any form of racing. We do recommend that successful applicants have at least had practice driving a car with a clutch.

Age Requirements for Entrants
Competitors must have reached the year of their 14th birthday and may continue until 31st December of the year of their 17th birthday
So an eligible competitor must be turning 14 years of age during 2026 (1st January to 31st December) and must be no more than 17 years of age on 31st December 2026.

What happens if the Scholarship is oversubscribed?
With such a fantastic prize available to the winner, Mondello Park envisage that they will receive a huge amount of applications. With the limited time available to assess an applicant on the day the organisers will if required shortlist candidates on the day. So please be aware that your application does not give you an automatic right to attend on the day. Mondello Park will advise all applicants if they have been selected or not for the assessment day.