MINI Today confirmed for the first time in an official press statement that a 210 hp Works MINI Cooper S will be available to the public in “Summer 2008″.

We’ve been saying for a long time that the new Stage 1 Works kit was only phase one of the “Hot MINIs from MINI” strategy and recently we gave 212 hp as the predicted output of the Stage 2 factory fitted Works, we were pretty close.

In a press release focusing on the MINI Challenge 2008 car, MINI mention, as an aside, that the same engine conversion will be available to private customers from Summer 2008. The tuning kit powers up the Cooper S with a quoted output of 210 hp (ps) and 260 Nm of torque (280 Nm with overboost). Now that sounds like fun.

*update*

Now we’ve received a full English language release, this news may not be so exciting for the road-going hot MINI fan.

Although the car is designed for race participation, private owners may find owning a MINI CHALLENGE car a compelling prospect. However, the car will not be licensed for public roads and as such is expected to maintain its appeal among racing enthusiasts.

Race teams will receive the first MINI CHALLENGE cars from March 2008. Private customers not competing in the MINI Challenge series can expect deliveries of cars from June 2008. An order form for the car can be downloaded from 11 September 2007 at www.MINI.com/challenge-car and the expected price is €49,900 inc. VAT.