MINI IN MOTORSPORT
When Alec Issigonis was tasked with developing a compact, space-efficient, fuel-efficient, four-seater, little did he know just how much of an impact this car would have. Thanks to Issigonis, a man whose design genius was beyond question and who delighted in defying convention, BMC’s new model – the Mini – nailed the design brief... and then some. A legend had been born.
Famously though, Issigonis was on a crusade to eliminate the superfluous. Which is why the very early Minis were pared-back, elemental devices that placed engineering above fripperies and excess. Even so, marketing dictates and automotive trends would see the Mini moving away from Issigonis’ utilitarian ideals. And thanks to long-time friend, engineer and motorsport pioneer, John Cooper, it would also be moving in an entirely different direction.
Cooper was patently aware that Issigonis had not only created a design icon, he’d also created a car that was huge fun to drive and could run rings around contemporary sports cars. Convinced it had enormous potential for motorsport, and despite Issigonis’ resistance (initially, he didn’t approve of making high-performance versions) Cooper set about transforming the Mini from runabout to and race winner. Cue the soon-to-be celebrated Cooper/Cooper S variants.
Prior to this, however, some enterprising individuals had already been using Minis in motorsport – almost as soon as the car rolled off the production line in fact. It could obviously handle a lot more power, and the A-series engine was already well catered for; tuning
