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GRX
555D victorious at the '66 Monte
Carlo - then disqualified
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GRX
555D
Registered
Jan 1966
Racing History
1966
Monte Carlo Rally Winners
Timo
Makinen/Paul Easter - 1st place - dsq
1966
Polish Rauno Aaltonen/Henry Liddon
- Retired
In January 1966 with Paddy Hopkirk in
Mini plate number 'GRX 5D', Rauno Aaltonen
in 'GRX 55D' and Timo Makinen in 'GRX
555D', the team set out for Monte Carlo,
confident of another victory. All the
cars were Mini Cooper 1275cc S models,
built to comply with Group One racing
regulations.
French
officials inspecting the Mini. Like the
previous two years, the Minis could not
be caught and they quickly showed their
supremacy. Just before the final section
of the rally, an odd notice appeared at
rally HQ stating that all competing cars
had to be fitted with both a driving beam
and a passing beam.
The French officials could not believe
the Minis were dominating their race and
so they set about scrutinizing the three
cars in a desperate attempt to find an
irregularity. Eight hours later, the Minis
were disqualified because of their headlamps!
The Works team was not even presented
with a finishers plaque.
The
Mini’s were back in 1967, headlights
in order, and they won again, this time
with the team of Rauno Aaltonen and Henry
Liddon.
The
legend of the Mini as a giant-killer racer
was assured.
Sold to L. Lamborne
In it's '66
Monte Carlo livery |
1966 Monte
Carlo Rally |
French officials
dismantle the car |
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