Page 12 - The 2021 Spring & Summer Club Braman Magazine

colossal legacy.
Small car.

2021 MINI PADDY HOPKIRK

EDITION

THE MINI BRAND ENJOYS a
rich racing heritage dating
back more than 60 years
to the golden era of road
rallying. The MINI debuted
in international competition
at a time when automobile
racing was a romanticized
sport—equally full of
danger and excitement. The
brave men who strapped
themselves to thousands of
pounds of steel propelled by
fuel and fire were revered
as celebrities; if not a bit
touched in the head.

One such man was Patrick
“Paddy” Hopkirk.

In 1964, Paddy piloted his
red MINI Cooper S—the
unforgettable number
37 emblazoned on its
doors—to the first of
three overall wins for the
diminutive manufacturer
in the storied Monte Carlo
Road Rally. While the
MINI was underpowered
and underestimated, the
maneuverability of the tiny
coupe proved too much for
the competition to overcome.
The surprise victory turned
both car and driver into
overnight sensations, and
helped solidify motorsport
as part of MINI’s DNA.

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