Tråd: Mini Cooper S i Monte Carlo rally - billede særlige

I år er 50 år siden, at Mini Cooper S tog sin første sejr i Monte Carlo rally. Dette år markerer 50-året for Mini Cooper S med at tage sin første sejr i Monte Carlo rally. Triumph gik på at give den ydmyge Mini og sin chauffør, Paddy Hopkirk, en fast plads i historien af international motorsport.
Den klassiske Mini debuterede i 1959, drevet af en 850er A-serie motoren udvikler bare 34bhp. Det var John Cooper der først opdaget at de fremragende køreegenskaber minier gav det real racing potentiale; den eneste ting mangler var magt.
I 1963, Cooper S blev lanceret, kan få et betydeligt løft af magt fra begyndelsen af Cooper modeller. Det bruges BMC A-Serie motor; men kapaciteten blev øget til 1071cc, hvilket betyder, 70bhp og en top hastighed på 90 mph. De ændringer, der betød, at det endelig havde grynt at vinde.
Bindingen af legendariske rally-driver Paddy Hopkirk og Cooper S stadig den dag i dag en af de bedste partnerskaber i motorsport historie.
Mini ' s lille størrelse, lav vægt og kraftig håndtering betød, at hvad den manglede i sheer straight-line, er det gjort op i hjørnerne. Cooper S blev afprøvet til sejr i Monte Carlo rally to gange, først i 1965 med Timo Mäkinen på hjulet, og igen i 1967, drevet af Rauno Aaltonen.
Den første etape til Saint-Claude af 64 Monte Carlo rally, sætte scenen for en ægte David og Goliat med en spændende kamp mellem Bo Ljungfeldt i en V8 Ford Falcon og Paddy Hopkirk i Cooper. Handicap formel, der på det tidspunkt var formuleret til at udjævne de store forskelle i magt og vægt af konkurrerende biler.
Dette betød, at på trods af Hopkirk efterbehandling 17 sekunder bag Bo Ljungfeldt, Hopkirk led i den samlede stilling. På 1,607 meter Col de Turini, afsnit Bo Ljungfeldt udgivet den fastende tid, men Minis legendariske håndtering, kombineret med Hopkirks evne til at køre på epic hastigheder på de sneklædte downhill sektioner var noget større biler, der simpelthen ikke kunne matche.
Cooper S forsvarede sit forspring gennem gaderne i Monte Carlo og den samlede sejr blev sikret for Cooper S. holdkammerater, Timo Mäkinen færdig med fjerde og Rauno Aaltonen syvende samlet.
I 1965, denne gang drevet af Tim Mäkinen, Cooper S kørte til sejr igen i nogle af de værste betingelser, der nogensinde har været vidne til på Monte. Cooper ' S added grynt fra sin nu udvidet 1275cc motor gav det passende grynt for det er op ad bakke faser. Den finske driver og co-driver Paul Påske vandt fem af de seks special-etaper på den sidste del af rallyet, og forblev straf uden nogen strafpoint for hele løbet.
De tre musketerer (Hopkirk, Mäkinen, Aaltonen) som de blev kærligt kendt blev oprindeligt placeret første, anden og tredje i 1966 rally, men blev senere diskvalificeret af de franske dommere, da de fire ekstra forlygter monteret på varmeapparatet gitter af Mini Coopers fandtes for at mislykkes med franske homologation regler.
Citroen driver Pauli Toivonen modvilligt accepteret, de hule sejr, men svor aldrig at køre for Citroen igen. Mini var tilbage på kampene form i 67 og vandt sin tredje og sidste Monte-Carlo rally styret af Rauno Aaltonen.

This year marks 50 years since the Mini Cooper S took its first win at the Monte Carlo rally. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Mini Cooper S taking its first victory in the Monte Carlo rally. The triumph went on to give the humble Mini and its driver, Paddy Hopkirk, a firm place in the history of international motorsport.
The classic Mini made its debut in 1959, powered by an 850cc A-series engine developing just 34bhp. It was John Cooper who first spotted that the Minis excellent handling characteristics gave it real racing potential; the only thing lacking was power.
In 1963, the Cooper S was launched, gaining a substantial boost of power from early Cooper models. It used the BMC A-Series engine; however its capacity was increased to 1071cc, meaning 70bhp and a top speed of 90mph. The modifications meant it finally had the grunt to win.
The pairing of legendary rally driver Paddy Hopkirk and the Cooper S remains to this day one of the best partnerships in motorsport history.
The Mini's small dimensions, low weight and sharp handling meant that what it lacked in sheer straight-line power, it made up for in the corners. The Cooper S was piloted to victory in the Monte Carlo rally twice more, first in 1965 with Timo Mäkinen at the wheel and again in 1967, driven by Rauno Aaltonen.
The first stage to Saint-Claude of the 64 Monte Carlo rally, set the scene for a true David versus Goliath story with a thrilling battle between Bo Ljungfeldt in a V8 powered Ford Falcon and Paddy Hopkirk in the Cooper. The handicap formula at the time was formulated to even out the vast differences in power and weight of competing cars.
This meant despite Hopkirk finishing 17 seconds behind Bo Ljungfeldt, Hopkirk led the overall standings. On the 1,607-metre Col de Turini, section Bo Ljungfeldt posted the fasted time, however the Minis legendary handling, coupled with Hopkirks ability to drive at epic speeds on the snowy downhill sections was something the bigger cars simply could not match.
The Cooper S defended its lead through the streets of Monte Carlo and overall victory was secured for the Cooper S. Team mates, Timo Mäkinen finished fourth and Rauno Aaltonen seventh overall.
In 1965, this time driven by Tim Mäkinen, the Cooper S raced to victory again in some of the worst conditions ever witnessed on the Monte. The Cooper S added grunt from its now-enlarged 1275cc engine gave it adequate grunt for the uphill stages. The Finnish driver and co-driver Paul Easter won five of the six special stages on the final leg of the rally, and remained penalty free of any penalty points for the entire race.
The three Musketeers, (Hopkirk, Mäkinen, Aaltonen ) as they were affectionately known were initially placed first, second and third in the 1966 rally,but were later disqualified by the French judges as the four additional headlights mounted on the radiator grille of the Mini Coopers were found to fail with French homologation rules.
Citroen driver Pauli Toivonen reluctantly accepted the hollow victory but vowed to never drive for Citroen again. The mini was back on fighting form in 67 and won its third and final Monte-Carlo rally piloted by Rauno Aaltonen.