NEITHER the teeth-rattling ride, nor the roaring road noise from the fat tyres were enough to wipe the smile off the face of my young passenger.

After a 40-mile evening ride around the winding by-ways of West Oxfordshire, my 19-year-niece Chloe’s verdict on the sportiest, fastest production Mini ever built was: “I want one.”

And not even an explanation of the cost, the horrendous insurance premium and the fact that only 2,000 of this limited edition model have been made, could put her off.

The two-seater John Cooper Works GP has the word sports firmly bolted on to every part of the car, from the two specially-stitched Recaro seats, to the 17-inch alloy wheels shod with sticky Kumho tyres.

Slip into that seat, grip the thick-rimmed, leather-trimmed John Cooper Works steering wheel and push the start button and you are enveloped in an anthracite and black-lined bubble of rumbling, racetrack-inspired noise.

The gearshift knob with chrome ring and red shift diagram is a flick-of-the-wrist affair, swiftly whisking the little car through six gears.

Ahead of you sits a large rev counter and, crucially, a digital speed read-out — a vital accessory with an engine capable of taking the car to a potential top speed of 148mph.

That engine is an extensively-modified, 1.6-litre four-cylinder, twin-turbo unit capable of developing 218 horsepower. Helping to keep that formidable power under control is a mix of adjustable suspension and an extra-powerful sports brake system.

The GP screams power from miles away. Mini says the aerodynamic body parts like the large front and rear aprons, striking side sills and model-specific roof spoiler not only add to the eye-catching appearance, but also play an important part in controlling air flow.

The company also says the rear diffuser, together with the underside panelling and the roof-edge spoiler, reduce lift forces at the rear axle by 90 per cent, for impeccable handling.

That pin-sharp control is evident on twisting country roads where the car comes into its own, sitting squarely on the road, delivering awesome cornering grip. The ride is far from the most comfortable that you will ever have, but it is undoubtedly one of the most exhilarating.

There is no mistaking the GP for any other Mini, as the body is painted in exclusive Thunder Grey metallic, with red for the edging round the bonnet opening, the exterior mirror caps and the side air intakes in the front apron. John Cooper Works insignia appear on the lower air intake and the tailgate and “GP”-badged side stripes run between the front and rear wheel arches.

The car’s standard specification includes xenon headlights in black shells, foglights, air conditioning and stability control.

The John Cooper Works GP is the latest incarnation of a racing heritage that dates back more than 50 years, to when the legendary sports car designer John Cooper developed a version of the classic Mini. This car also carved out a highly successful career in motorsport, where it was three-times winner of the Monte Carlo Rally.

My niece’s desire to own a Mini is something which also spans the generations. While she sat enthusing about her ride in the car, her mother sat across the room nodding in sympathy: “I was just the same at her age. All I wanted was a red Mini Mayfair.” And did she get one?

Yes, she did.

Auto facts Mini John Cooper Works GP

  • Price: £28,790
  • Insurance group: 36 (1-50)
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 39.8mpg
  • Top speed: 148mph
  • Length: 375.8cm/148in
  • Width: 168.3cm/66.2in
  • 0-100kph (62mph) time: 6.3 seconds
  • Fuel tank capacity: 11 gallons/50 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 165g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/unlimited mileage