A total of 2,000 John Cooper Works GP Minis were produced in 2006. The car was officially known as the Mini Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit and was the final major variant of the first-generation supercharged Mini.
The GP was developed as a lightweight, track-focused version of the R53 Cooper S. It used the supercharged 1.6-litre Tritec engine with revised engine management, a freer-flowing exhaust and improved cooling. Weight-saving measures included removing the rear seats and reducing sound insulation, while Recaro front seats and upgraded chassis components sharpened its sporting character.
The run was limited to 2,000 cars worldwide, making the GP a collector’s Mini. Of those, 444 were originally intended for the United Kingdom, although the final UK allocation reached 459. The 2006 GP should not be confused with the second-generation JCW GP, which was a separate limited edition produced later.