2023 Mini Challenge UK

The 2023 Vertu Motors Mini Challenge UK was the 22nd season of Mini Challenge UK, ran in England and Scotland.

Dan Zelos won his second JCW championship, with 10 wins. EXCELR8 Motorsport – Red won the Teams' Championship.

Teams and drivers

Team	No.	Drivers	Rounds
JCW Entries
Hybrid Tune	1	Sam Weller	3, 7
	13	Ryan Faulconbridge	1–2, 4–6
	24	Joe Tanner D	All
	31	Will Orton R	All
	42	Sam Smith G	1, 6–7
EXCELR8 Motorsport	2	Nathan Harrison	7
	8	Steven Lake D R	1–4
	10	Bradley Gravett	1–5, 7
	22	Barry Ward D G	1–4
	26	Thomas Jack Lee R	All
	45	Dan Zelos	All
	88	Oliver Meadows R	All
	93	Maximus Hall R	7
	94	Josh Porter R	All
	96	Jordan Kerridge R	1–6
Graves Motorsport	5	James Griffith D	1–4, 6
	12	Spencer Stevenson R	6–7
	14	Dominic Wheatley G	All
	95	Nelson King R	All
Autotech Motorsport	9	Bill Hardy D	All
NAPA Racing UK	18	Lewis Selby D R	All
NAPA Racing UK	77	Jamie Osborne G	All
Jamsport Racing	27	Marlo Cordell R	1–5, 7
OX4 Racingg	35	Simon Reed D R	1–3, 5–7
Lydia Walmsley Racing	82	Lydia Walmsley	All
TEAM PETTERS RACING	86	Daniel Petters	1–5
TEAM PETTERS RACING	322	Jamie Petters	1–5

Ronan Pearson was set to compete with EXCELR8 Motorsport, but withdrew to compete with the team in the British Touring Car Championship.

Jamie Tonks was set to debut with EXCELR8 Motorsport in the second half of the season, but did not appear.

Race calendar

Round		Circuit	Date
1	R1	Donington Park National	22–23 April
	R2
	R3
2	R4	Brands Hatch Indy	6–7 May
	R5
	R6
3	R7	Snetterton Circuit	20–21 May
	R8
	R9
5	R10	Oulton Park	17–18 June
5	R11	Oulton Park	17–18 June
7	R12	Knockhill Racing Circuit	12–13 August
	R13
	R14
9	R15	Silverstone Circuit	23–24 September
	R16
	R17
10	R18	Brands Hatch GP	7–8 October
	R19
	R20

Results and standings

Race Results

Round		Circuit	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning Driver	Winning team	Director's Cup Winner	Rookie Cup winner	Graduate Cup Winner
1	R1	Donington Park National	Dan Zelos	Dan Zelos	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Joe Tanner	Will Orton	Sam Smith
	R2			Oliver Meadows	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Joe Tanner	Will Orton	Sam Smith
	R3			Will Orton	Will Orton	Hybrid Tune	Joe Tanner	Will Orton	Dominic Wheatley
2	R1	Brands Hatch Indy	Dan Zelos	Dan Zelos	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Barry Ward	Will Orton	Jamie Osborne
	R2			Will Orton	Will Orton	Hybrid Tune	Lewis Selby	Will Orton	Dominic Wheatley
	R3			Will Orton	Will Orton	Hybrid Tune	Joe Tanner	Will Orton	Dominic Wheatley
3	R1	Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit	Dan Zelos	Joe Tanner	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Joe Tanner	Will Orton	Dominic Wheatley
	R2			Sam Weller	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Joe Tanner	Nelson King	Dominic Wheatley
	R3			Will Orton	Nelson King	Graves Motorsport	Joe Tanner	Nelson King	Dominic Wheatley
4	R1	Oulton Park	Dan Zelos	Dan Zelos	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Joe Tanner	Will Orton	Jamie Osborne
4	R2	Oulton Park		Thomas Jack Lee	Jamie Osborne	NAPA Racing UK	Joe Tanner	Nelson King	Jamie Osborne
5	R1	Knockhill Racing Circuit	Dan Zelos	Dan Zelos	Will Orton	Hybrid Tune	Joe Tanner	Will Orton	Jamie Osborne
	R2			Will Orton	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Lewis Selby	Nelson King	Jamie Osborne
	R3			Dan Zelos	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Joe Tanner	Will Orton	Jamie Osborne
6	R1	Silverstone Circuit	Dan Zelos	Oliver Meadows	Will Orton	Hybrid Tune	James Griffith	Will Orton	Dominic Wheatley
	R2			Bradley Gravett	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Joe Tanner	Nelson King	Dominic Wheatley
	R3			Nelson King	Dan Zelos	EXCELR8 Motorsport	Joe Tanner	Thomas Jack Lee	Jamie Osborne
7	R1	Brands Hatch GP	Sam Smith	Will Orton	Sam Smith	Hybrid Tune	Joe Tanner	Will Orton	Sam Smith
	R2			Will Orton	Sam Smith	Hybrid Tune	Simon Reed	Will Orton	Sam Smith
	R3			Nathan Harrison	Sam Weller	Hybrid Tune	Lewis Selby	Will Orton	Dominic Wheatley

Championship standings

Points system
Races	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th	16th	17th	18th	19th	20th	Fastest lap	Pole position
Races	50	44	40	37	34	32	30	28	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	6	6
Source:

Drivers' championship

Pos.	Driver	DPN			BHI			SNE			OUL		KNO			SIL			BHGP			Pts	Pen.	Drop	Pts
1	Dan Zelos	1	1	Ret	1	19	4	1	1	4	1	6	4	1	1	2	1	1	2	16	6	878		16	862
2	Will Orton	4	4	1	2	1	1	3	Ret	Ret	4	3	1	3	3	1	6	4	3	2	2	816		6	810
3	Nelson King	8	6	3	Ret	12	5	7	4	1	5	2	2	2	Ret	3	2	10	10	6	14	650			650
4	Oliver Meadows	5	5	7	3	7	3	6	6	5	7	16	Ret	7	9	4	3	3	7	5	3	662		19	643
5	Joe Tanner	3	2	2	Ret	9	6	2	2	2	2	4	3	Ret	4	12	8	7	8	Ret	DNS	598			598
6	Bradley Gravett	Ret	13	10	4	2	Ret	5	5	7	3	5	5	4	7	Ret	17	8	6	9	5	573			573
7	Thomas Jack Lee	7	20	13	14	8	2	10	7	8	Ret	8	9	5	5	5	4	2	12	12	9	572		15	557
8	Jamie Osborne	Ret	12	5	5	4	13	15	Ret	9	6	1	6	6	2	DNS	12	5	9	10	16	529			529
9	Dominic Wheatley	11	10	4	8	3	10	8	9	3	12	11	7	Ret	10	8	9	16	11	Ret	8	511			511
10	Lydia Walmsley	10	9	8	9	10	20	12	10	10	8	7	Ret	12	8	10	5	9	13	7	7	509		15	494
11	Lewis Selby	19	14	6	11	6	7	9	12	11	10	Ret	11	8	11	16	15	13	16	13	11	472		16	456
12	Josh Porter	9	8	9	10	17	12	13	15	12	9	10	13	10	15	7	7	12	Ret	Ret	15	439			439
13	Bill Hardy	18	Ret	17	16	13	15	17	14	15	16	12	17	11	Ret	13	13	Ret	15	14	13	360			360
14	Simon Reed	17	21	15	20	20	18	20	18	17			14	15	14	15	16	15	17	11	12	352			352
15	Jordan Kerridge	16	18	14	14	16	21	21	17	18	17	14	16	16	Ret	14	11	14				309			309
16	Marlo Cordell	12	11	11	6	5	19	16	Ret	14	13	Ret	12	Ret	Ret				19	15	Ret	283			283
17	Ryan Faulconbridge	13	15	Ret	17	14	17				11	15	10	9	6	DNS	14	11				273			273
18	Daniel Petters	14	16	Ret	18	15	14	19	13	13	DNS	Ret	15	13	13							225			225
19	Jamie Petters	15	17	16	19	18	16	Ret	16	16	Ret	Ret	8	14	12							221			221
20	Sam Smith	2	3	Ret												9	DNS	DNS	1	1	Ret	216			216
21	Barry Ward	6	7	Ret	17	Ret	11	14	11	Ret	14	9										210			210
22	James Griffith	Ret	Ret	Ret	13	11	9	11	8	Ret	18	13				6	Ret	Ret				198			198
23	Steven Lake	20	19	12	12	Ret	8	18	DSQ	DNS	15	DNS										143	60		83
Drivers ineligible for championship points
-	Sam Weller							4	3	6									4	3	1	-			-
-	Nathan Harrison																		5	4	4	-			-
-	Spencer Stevenson															11	9	6	18	8	Ret	-			-
-	Maximus Hall																		14	Ret	10	-			-
Pos.	Driver	DPN			BHI			SNE			OUL		KNO			SIL			BHGP			Pts	Pen.	Drop	Pts

Teams' Championship

Pos.	Team	Points
1	EXCELR8 Motorsport - Red	1649
2	Hybrid Tune	1532
3	Graves Motorsport	1191
4	EXCELR8 Motorsport - Blue	1069
5	NAPA Racing UK	1001
6	TEAM PETTERS RACING	446

Rookie Cup

Pos.	Team	Points
1	Will Orton	768
2	Nelson King	644
3	Oliver Meadows	631
4	Thomas Jack Lee	551
5	Lewis Selby	456
6	Josh Porter	439
7	Simon Reed	352
8	Jordan Kerridge	309
9	Marlo Cordell	283
10	Daniel Petters	225
11	Jamie Petters	221
12	Steven Lake	83

Graduate Cup

Pos.	Team	Points
1	Jamie Osborne	529
2	Dominic Wheatley	511
3	Sam Smith	210
4	Barry Ward	210

Directors' Cup

Pos.	Team	Points
1	Joe Tanner	592
2	Lewis Selby	456
3	Bill Hardy	360
4	Simon Reed	352
5	Barry Ward	210
6	James Griffith	198
7	Steven Lake	83

Notes

↑ The cars of Dan Zelos, Oliver Meadows and Bradley Gravett.
↑ The cars of Thomas Jack Lee, Jordan Kerridge and Josh Porter.

References

↑ Salisbury, Matt (16 May 2023). "SAM WELLER JOINS SNETTERTON JCW GRID". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (8 October 2023). "SAM WELLER SIGNS OFF WITH VICTORY". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Bains, Anna-Maria (21 April 2023). "2fawcett Sponsor Ryan Faulconbridge Racing". 2fawcett. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
1 2 3 Salisbury, Matt (20 April 2023). "NEW LOOK JCW FIELD GETS SET FOR BUSINESS". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (17 April 2023). "WILL ORTON INKS HYBRID TUNE DEAL". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (24 April 2023). "STATEMENT: SAM SMITH". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ lane, stu (5 October 2023). "FORMER CHAMPION NATHAN HARRISON JOINS BRANDS HATCH ENTRY". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (15 March 2023). "STEVEN LAKE STEPS UP TO MINI CHALLENGE WITH JCW ENTRY". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (31 August 2022). "BRADLEY GRAVETT MAKES EXCELR8 SWITCH". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (8 March 2023). "BAZ WARD CONFIRMS FULL SEASON JCW PROGRAMME". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (25 January 2023). "RISING STAR THOMAS JACK LEE JOINS JCW GRID". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Holguin, Sam (21 March 2023). "Dan Zelos talks to Davanti about his Mini Challenge 2023 pre-season preparations". Davanti Tyres. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (17 April 2023). "OLIVER MEADOWS CONFIRMS JCW GRADUATION WITH EXCELR8". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ lane, stu (5 October 2023). "MAX HALL JOINS JCW FINALE WITH EXCELR8". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (19 April 2023). "JCW ROOKIE JOSH PORTER COMPLETES EXCELR8 LINE-UP". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (22 February 2023). "JORDAN KERRIDGE JOINS JCW GRID WITH EXCELR8". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ REDFORD, LIAM (26 September 2023). "Lydia Walmsley scores breakthrough top-5 finish at Silverstone". Racers. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (16 April 2023). "DOMINIC WHEATLEY RETURNS FOR GRADUATE CAMPAIGN". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (9 February 2023). "COOPER CHAMPION NELSON KING MAKES JCW SWITCH". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (20 July 2023). "LASER TOOLS RACING JOINS JCW GRID WITH NELSON KING". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (23 April 2023). "DAN ZELOS AT THE DOUBLE". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
1 2 3 Salisbury, Matt (1 March 2023). "NAPA RACING UK ANNOUNCES MULTI-CAR MINI CHALLENGE PROGRAMME". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
1 2 Salisbury, Matt (10 March 2023). "JAMSPORT MAKES MINI CHALLENGE RETURN". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ "'Being in a race car is a feeling like no other'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
1 2 Salisbury, Matt (17 May 2023). "SIBLINGS SET FOR SNETTERTON SHOWDOWN". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (9 November 2022). "RONAN PEARSON TARGETS JCW CROWN WITH NEW EXCELR8 DEAL". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ Salisbury, Matt (5 July 2023). "TCR RACE WINNER JAMIE TONKS SIGNS EXCELR8 JCW DEAL". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
↑ "Key Rules And Regulations • BTCC". 25 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2026.

[29] The cars of Dan Zelos, Oliver Meadows and Bradley Gravett.

[30] The cars of Thomas Jack Lee, Jordan Kerridge and Josh Porter.

[1] Salisbury, Matt (16 May 2023). "SAM WELLER JOINS SNETTERTON JCW GRID". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[2] Salisbury, Matt (8 October 2023). "SAM WELLER SIGNS OFF WITH VICTORY". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[3] Bains, Anna-Maria (21 April 2023). "2fawcett Sponsor Ryan Faulconbridge Racing". 2fawcett. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[Salisbury1-4] 1 2 3 Salisbury, Matt (20 April 2023). "NEW LOOK JCW FIELD GETS SET FOR BUSINESS". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[5] Salisbury, Matt (17 April 2023). "WILL ORTON INKS HYBRID TUNE DEAL". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[6] Salisbury, Matt (24 April 2023). "STATEMENT: SAM SMITH". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[7] , stu (5 October 2023). "FORMER CHAMPION NATHAN HARRISON JOINS BRANDS HATCH ENTRY". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[8] Salisbury, Matt (15 March 2023). "STEVEN LAKE STEPS UP TO MINI CHALLENGE WITH JCW ENTRY". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[9] Salisbury, Matt (31 August 2022). "BRADLEY GRAVETT MAKES EXCELR8 SWITCH". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[10] Salisbury, Matt (8 March 2023). "BAZ WARD CONFIRMS FULL SEASON JCW PROGRAMME". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[11] Salisbury, Matt (25 January 2023). "RISING STAR THOMAS JACK LEE JOINS JCW GRID". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[12] Holguin, Sam (21 March 2023). "Dan Zelos talks to Davanti about his Mini Challenge 2023 pre-season preparations". Davanti Tyres. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[13] Salisbury, Matt (17 April 2023). "OLIVER MEADOWS CONFIRMS JCW GRADUATION WITH EXCELR8". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[14] , stu (5 October 2023). "MAX HALL JOINS JCW FINALE WITH EXCELR8". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[15] Salisbury, Matt (19 April 2023). "JCW ROOKIE JOSH PORTER COMPLETES EXCELR8 LINE-UP". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[16] Salisbury, Matt (22 February 2023). "JORDAN KERRIDGE JOINS JCW GRID WITH EXCELR8". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[17] REDFORD, LIAM (26 September 2023). "Lydia Walmsley scores breakthrough top-5 finish at Silverstone". Racers. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[18] Salisbury, Matt (16 April 2023). "DOMINIC WHEATLEY RETURNS FOR GRADUATE CAMPAIGN". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[19] Salisbury, Matt (9 February 2023). "COOPER CHAMPION NELSON KING MAKES JCW SWITCH". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[20] Salisbury, Matt (20 July 2023). "LASER TOOLS RACING JOINS JCW GRID WITH NELSON KING". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[21] Salisbury, Matt (23 April 2023). "DAN ZELOS AT THE DOUBLE". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[Salisbury2-22] 1 2 3 Salisbury, Matt (1 March 2023). "NAPA RACING UK ANNOUNCES MULTI-CAR MINI CHALLENGE PROGRAMME". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[Salisbury3-23] 1 2 Salisbury, Matt (10 March 2023). "JAMSPORT MAKES MINI CHALLENGE RETURN". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[24] "'Being in a race car is a feeling like no other'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[Salisbury4-25] 1 2 Salisbury, Matt (17 May 2023). "SIBLINGS SET FOR SNETTERTON SHOWDOWN". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[26] Salisbury, Matt (9 November 2022). "RONAN PEARSON TARGETS JCW CROWN WITH NEW EXCELR8 DEAL". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[27] Salisbury, Matt (5 July 2023). "TCR RACE WINNER JAMIE TONKS SIGNS EXCELR8 JCW DEAL". MINI CHALLENGE. Retrieved 22 October 2026.

[28] "Key Rules And Regulations • BTCC". 25 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2026.