Sadly Paddy Hopkirk Has Died – One Of Britian’s Greatest Rally Drivers Who Beat The World With A Mini

In sad news Paddy Hopkirk, the British rallying legend who saw great success with the Mini has died at his home in Buckinghamshire on Thursday 21st July 2022.

Patrick Barron Hopkirk (MBE), was born in Belfast on the 14th of April 1933 and began a career in motor racing in the 1950s.

Paddy’s success began with his first professional appearance at the Circuit of Ireland and that year won the Hewison Trophy for the most successful Irish rally driver. Following this he entered the Safari Rally, the RAC Rally, the Acropolis Rally, Tulip Rally, Alpine Rally and many more.

Paddy entered his first Monte Carlo Rally in 1962 and came third in a Sunbeam Rapier, the following year saw him place sixth with the classic Mini.

In 1964 Hopkirk delivered his first victory on the Monte in a Mini beating much bigger and faster cars, with an epic battle with Swedish driver Bo Ljungfeldt and his much more powerful Ford Falcon.

this success was big news in Britain making the Mini a legend overnight and Hopkirk a household name. Even the Prime Minister sent congratulations along with the Beatles who said in a card; “Now you’re one of us, Paddy.”

Always known as a fair sportsman and all round nice gentleman, he demonstrated this when in 1968 leading the London to Sydney Marathon, Paddy and his co-driver Tony Nash stopped their Austin to help a team member out of their burning car.

Paddy will be missed and represents one of those great drivers with a range of talents from an era when sportsmen meant more than doing everything to win.