The smallest city car beating the strong and powerful machines at their own game was a ridiculous idea, but only until Hopkirk made it a reality. In January 1964, the scarlet Mini changed the history of rallying and the perspective of every motorsport fan. It had scant power and almost no torque. It had no ground clearance and was not particularly robust. So when someone decided to stick some numbers on the doors and send it to the toughest rallies in the WRC, no one gave it much thought. What appeared to be just a marketing ploy turned out to be an earthquake in motorsports. A classic David vs. Goliath with a desirable plot. By winning the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, Paddy Hopkirk became a national hero, being greeted by the Prime Minister and even the Beatles!
Let's pay tribute to Paddy and his mighty Mini!
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