 For almost an entire decade, premier motorsport events such as the Monte Carlo Rally were completely dominated by the Mini Cooper, indeed, between 1962 and 1968, a Mini Cooper would be found in the top three at this event alone.
Where the Mini Cooper truly found its greatest following, was with the amateur racing organisations, such as hill climb events, grass track racing and unclassified rally events. The relatively low price of the vehicle, coupled with the ease of maintenance, made it a perfect choice for private individuals, who wished to be involved in motorsport independently. To this day, you will still find Mini Cooper based vehicles performing extremely well at these kinds of events.
Not only did the vehicle itself become a mainstay of budget motorsport during the 1960s and 1970s, it continued to be the preferred donor vehicle for any number of small quantity production cars, focused on the amateur racing market. Fibreglass kits, such as the GTM, which used Cooper running gear as a donor, became astoundingly competitive due to their decreased weight and superior handling. All in all, no other car made such an impression upon amateur motorsport in the UK than the Mini Cooper.
|
 |
