The Brands Hatch Mini Festival celebrates 50 years of the Cooper S next weekend and young drivers can get a real taste of the action.

Two very different MINI experiences will be giving fans of all ages a taste of what a MINI can do at the Brands Hatch Mini Festival in association with Mini Sport on 22-23 June.

YoungDrive! taster sessions will give 11-17 year olds the chance to get behind the wheel of a new MINI with the help of a DSA-approved instructor, and they can say they’ve driven on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit!

The 30 minute sessions on the closed-off GP loop will cost £30 and will give your young driver an invaluable early lesson in a safe and traffic-free setting. All of our MINIs feature dual-controls to provide the perfect head-start for any prospective driver.

Those looking for something a bit more of an adrenaline rush can sign up for a ride around the rally stage in a Mini Sport rally-prepared MINI. There’s plenty of experience behind the wheel too: Daniel Harper claimed the first WRC stage class win for MINI and John Cressey has decades’ worth of rallying experience.

All of the profits raised on the rally stage will be donated to Cancer Research, and each ride will cost £25. Both MINIs taking to the stage are in full competitive specification and are sure to provide a thrill to anyone who climbs into the passenger seat!

The Brands Hatch Mini Festival in association with Mini Sport is bringing together some of the most famous and rare Minis in the world to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mini Cooper S. Minis will be racing all weekend in a packed timetable of racing, Russ Swift will be performing his amazing stunt show, the Red Devils Parachute Display Team will drop in and sign autographs and there’s much more to keep all ages entertained throughout the weekend.

Those wishing to sign up for a rally ride should email [email protected] with their name, address and the day they would like their ride to be. Payment will be made in cash on the day. YoungDrive! places can be booked online in advance here.

Tickets for the Brands Hatch Mini Festival are available for £18 per day or £22 for the weekend. Kids 12 years and under get in free.