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The Rally Minis
At one time in the sixties the Mini Cooper S simply looked like the ideal of the all-round rally car. How could anyone improve on such a small vehicle with good traction, excellent power-to-weight ratio and proven reliability. But all good things come to an end.



It was gradual in coming. It came down to other car being of more sporting pedigree (Porsche) or specially purpose-built (Alpine Renault A110, Ford escort TC, Lancia Fulvia HF), a general weakening of morale, and final withdrawal from an effective rallying programme by the forces at work on the unwieldy British Leyland conglomerate.
The Mini Cooper S did have some more scope for speed left in it. Later developments in engine size in club formulae proved the point. More work with the 12" wheels and in general development could have postponed the evil day.
Yet the fact remained that the Cooper S scored its last international outright victory on the 1967 Alpine. It remained a front runner for some time after that, but a dry Monte Carlo 1968 that allowed the Porsches to display their 200bhp speed, plus rear-engine traction, must have been a discouragement after years of solid success in the world's most prestigious rally. The Works Cooper S-types were third, fourth and fifth in the display against the odds. But winning is the Works game ....





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