Video: Aimée Watts takes on Goodwood in Alex Brundle’s giant killing Mini

04th December 2025

Russell Campbell

The Goodwood Motor Circuit is arguably the best place in the world to watch the pint-sized terrors that are Minis dancing through fast corners, mixing it confidently with machinery boasting far more power. And if you’re making your Goodwood competitive debut, as HRDC Champion Aimée Watts is here at the 82nd Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport, there are few better cars in which to take the plunge.

We join Watts as she prepares to race Alex Brundle’s immaculately prepared Mini in the Whitmore Cup, an event reserved for cars of 2.0 litres or less. Even within those modest limits, the Mini is still the underdog, giving away horsepower to the Fords and Alfas it must battle on track. But Minis have never won on power alone, their magic lies elsewhere.

Fortunately, Watts has exactly the right tools for the job. Brundle’s Mini has been built from the ground up using a reclaimed BMC shell, with extensive help from Nick Swift — arguably the master of all things Mini and a formidable competitor in his own right. The entire build has been chronicled in detail on Brundle’s YouTube channel, giving fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create a front-running historic racer.

Members' Meeting

83rd Members’ Meeting race list

As Watts explains, driving a Mini at Goodwood is less about nailing braking points and more about having the confidence to barely brake at all. The car’s brilliance lies in its ability to cling to the tarmac, allowing a committed driver to carry astonishing speed through Goodwood’s fast, flowing bends. You need to trust in Sir Alec Issigonis’s iconic design.

That trust is particularly important given the limited preparation Watts had before her debut: just four laps to familiarise herself with both car and circuit before lining up on the grid. Even so, this isn’t her first foray into Mini competition. She has raced her father’s Mini and previously shared a car with the legendary Tina Cooper, giving her a solid grounding in what it takes to hustle one of these tiny titans.

In this video, Watts tells us how she first found her way into racing, what it’s like to compete on behalf of Alex, and how she tackles the challenges of carving out a place in a sport still dominated by men.

The 83^rd Members' Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport takes place on the 18^th & 19^th April 2026. Tickets are on sale now for GRRC Members and Fellows

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