Monte Carlo Rally Mini

Cars competing in the Monte Carlo Rally would start at various European cities, covering vast mileages at a set average speed, before converging in France for the competitive legs.

The final stage through winding Monte Carlo, saw the Swede set a new fastest time and arrive first at the finish line. According to the handicap formula used at the time to equalise the differences in power and weight, the Mini Cooper completed the circuit just half a minute later - landing the big coup and securing top spot in the overall standings.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the remarkable triumph of the Mini Cooper S at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, piloted by Irishman Patrick quotPaddyquot Hopkirk, marked a pivotal moment in international motorsport. Far from mere coincidence, the victory underscored the synergy of modern technology, exceptional drivers, and innovative logistics

The classic Mini continued to dominate the Monte Carlo Rally in subsequent years. Timo Mkinen won with a big lead just one year later. The displacement expansion to 1275 cubic centimeters also helped. Mkinen was the only participant who remained free of penalty points over the entire distance.

A year later, he finished third overall in the Monte Carlo Rally in his Mini Cooper and won his class. He finished seventh in 1964. After scoring a number of wins and leading places in international rallies, Rauno Aaltonen won the European Rally Championship in 1965. The success didn't stop there, as he saw much success throughout 1966.

On 21 January 1964, the Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time. It was the pairing of Northern Ireland's Patrick quotPaddyquot Hopkirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon that pulled off the big surprise, resisting the supposed superiority of significantly more powerful rivals in their small British car. Its faultless run over

The Monte Carlo Rally screams glamour, knuckle whitening, high-octane excitement and a 1,000 km plus race that tests skill, strategy and total car performance like no other. The announcement that Mini intended to enter the prestigious rally was greeted with a level of disbelief. Mini was a car revered for its energetic and gleeful drive

It is now 50 years since one of the most spectacular victories in the history of international motor sport. On 21 January 1964, the Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time.

The 1964 Monte Carlo Rally was to be the key moment in the early history of the Mini's racing career, with over 300 cars entered in the arduous, grueling event that spanned a distance of 2,485 miles. The Monte Carlo Rally wasn't an ordinary, afternoon sprint on a conventional racetrack.

The History of Mini Winning The Monte Carlo Rally. On 21 January 1964, the Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time. It was the pairing of Northern Ireland's Patrick quotPaddyquot Hopkirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon that pulled off the big surprise, resisting the supposed superiority of significantly more powerful rivals