THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MINI’S IMPROBABLE VICTORY ON THE MONTE CARLO RALLY WILL CELEBRATED AT THIS YEAR’S GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED
20.01.2014.- Irishman Paddy Hopkirk will drive a Mini Cooper S up the Goodwood hill during the 27-29 June event, and is certain to be a favourite among spectators as he evokes memories of his heroic performance on the mountain stages of Southern France in 1964.
The Monte Carlo Rally, which kicks off the 2014 World Rally Championship, encompasses just 238 competitive miles, while the 1964 edition featured crews starting from a variety of European cities, such as Oslo, Paris and Glasgow and descending on the Principality after a mammoth three-day drive of over 1400 miles.
Irishman Paddy Hopkirk, whose Mini Cooper S was co-driven by Henry Liddon, beat the more powerful Ford Falcon of Bo Ljungfeld and Erik Carlsson’s Saab over a series of stages and driving tests, using the Mini’s agility to maximum effect in the snowy conditions.
It also began a run of three wins in four years on the Monte for the Mini; Timo Makinen and Rauno Aaltonen adding successes in 1965 and ’67 respectively and perfectly encapsulating the 2014 Festival of Speed’s theme: “Addicted to winning”.
Hopkirk is just the first in a long line of rally legends to be confirmed as appearing at the Festival of Speed this year. Plenty more will be revealed soon.
More information:
http://www.goodwood.co.uk/festival-of-speed/
Text and photograph: Goodwood Festival of Speed
