This MINI really has the X Factor – its first owner was music mogul Simon Cowell.

And the MINI John Cooper Works GP II was given away, along with £50,000, in a competition in the last X Factor series in December.

Now Brundall Motor Company owner Chris Blyth has the car for sale at £25,499 complete with the handbook signed by Cowell and the V5 registration document and MINI TLC service package certificate bearing his name.

Only 2,000 GP IIs were built – just 200 in right-hand drive – so they're already sought after.

Mr Blyth said Cowell's car was won in the competition by a Belfast woman who never actually drove it. As well as being a Ford service centre and selling nearly-new cars, Brundall Motor Company specialises in MINIs and Mr Blyth bought the car through the trade.

Built in March 2013 and costing £29,085 new on the road, it has covered just 1,000 miles and is under MINI warranty until December 2016.

'I have already had several inquiries about it from as far away as Wales,' he explained.

Though road legal, the unique thunder grey metallic MINI John Cooper Works GP II with silver roof was designed as a track car. It has no rear seats and is powered by a 218hp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine making it capable of 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds and 150mph.

Its comprehensive specification includes adjustable suspension and ride height, ultra-sticky Kumho performance tyres, a revised aerodynamic package and uprated brakes with six-piston front callipers and 330mm ventilated front discs.

It's not the first star car Mr Blyth has sold – in the 1980s he had the Ford Escort RS2000 from TV series The Professionals.

And an original Mini 1272cc special 500 edition has also been sold by Brundall Motor Company and is destined to join a collection of original Leyland vehicles being set up in London.

Mr Blyth said the garage had had the 2000-registered Mini, which is one of the last Minis and totally original with just 1,904 miles on the clock, for a couple of years and he was delighted it was going to be preserved for posterity.

Telephone Brundall Motor Company on 01603 715555.

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