Mini celebrates 50 years since Monte win

IT'S 50 years since the iconic Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally and to mark the occasion the famous car and its driver have been brought back together.

Paddy Hopkirk took the Mini to its maiden win on the Monte Carlo Rally, and the car went on to win again in 1965 and 1967. It should also have won in 1966, but it was denied due to a technical infringement with its lights.

Hopkirk recalls the victory on the Monte: ‘Although the Mini was only a small family car, it had a lot of advantages. Its front-wheel drive was a great help and the fact the car was smaller and the roads were narrow gave us a helping hand. We were very lucky, the car was right and everything happened at the right time.’

He also credits his win to co-driver Henry Liddon and said: ‘Henry really was an outstanding co-driver, but he never got enough credit. He did a fantastic job of reading the notes and being an office manager in the car.’

By Press Association reporters