A few answers from MINI USA!

Hooray – we’ve (*) achieved direct communication with MINI USA and we have answers to some of our GP questions …

Will the GP have rear fog lights?
No rear fogs due to OR law

Is the standard USA steering wheel, or the new JCW steering wheel, fitted?
Not the JCW version 😦

Is the glove box installed (shown in the USA GP booklet but missing from the press release pics)
Yes

The USA GP booklet says the seats have “adjustable thigh support” – how does this work?
Mistake, left over from Recaro description
[I was sure this was an error, which is why the question was asked – shame]

Is the “boot area” in the GP the same size and configuration as a production MINI so that a standard MINI boot mat will fit in the rear boot well?
Same as standard MCS

Apparently there are no rear speakers in the GP; is the wiring to those speaker positions still present in the car?
Wiring is in place but there is no brackets or other mounting points
[which also confirms that there are no rear speakers!]

MINI has said that a car cover for the GP will become available in the future. What color? All-weather?
Product still being developed, no info yet

(persons who have run track events generally use the rear seat belt anchoring points/buckles for 3 or 4 point belt systems) Does the cover beneath the “parcel bar” snap out easily without removing the red wheel arch covers (thereby providing access to the (rear) seat belt anchor points? Is the rear “parcel bar” of sufficient composition and structure to be used as an anchoring point for shoulder belts?
There are no anchor points for race harnesses and the parcel bar is not recommended for that use

Are the MINI GP’s pre-wired to accept the MINI Alarm system sold as a dealer-installed accessory here in the US?
Yes

What options are there for Convenience Programming of GPs delivered in Monterey?
Programming will be provided at Monterey

There has been no definitive statement from MINI as to how the cars are being shipped to the USA and where they are being off-loaded. Assumption is that they will be off-loaded in So. Cal at the MINI VDC.
Cars have arrived [will arrive] in NJ and are going to be shipped via covered transport to Monterey

Are the front and/or rear sway bars on the MINI GP any different in size than a production Mini Cooper S? Are the bushings for the front/rear sway bars any different for the MINI GP?
Both are the same as a standard MCS

I think the only serious downer here is that there seems to have been zero consideration for anyone wanting to boost the seat harnesses for track use – especially since the GP is trying to be a good track car …

(*) Many thanks to Sherry / AprilWhine and the other GP buyers for relentlessly pursuing these answers – and thanks to Mr. Stracco at MINI USA for providing them!