MIni celebration planned

To mark the mini’s 50th anniversary, a special Mini Cup will be run in historic rallying in 2009 with support from Paddy Hopkirk in a bid to get more of the cars back in action.

Created by the Historic Rally Car Register, the Mini 50 Cup will run over eight special stage rallies and will be open to all classic-specification Minis built up to 1981.

“We want to try and get as many Minis back onto the stages as possible,” said Paul Loveridge of the HRCR. The calendar will cover four gravel rallies and four asphalt events, starting with the Red Kite Stages on January 18.