Paddy Hopkirk

MOTORSPORT legend Paddy Hopkirk has died at the age of 89.The British racing icon, most famous for his 1964 Monte Carlo Rally win, has "passed away pe.

They were joined by hoards of fans and motorsport enthusiasts left shattered by the horrible news - with one offering a silver lining, tweeting: "His legacy will live on." The FIA - the governing body for world motorsport - tweeted: "We pay tribute to former Rally driver Paddy Hopkirk, who passed away at the age of 89. "Our thoughts are with his family and friends." "He brought fun and joy to anyone in his company and inspired many." "His hard work in support of the British motorsport and wider car industry continued until his final days. During his days at Trinity, he had bought an Austin 7 "Chummy" Tourer - which he would later race on the rally circuit.

Motorsport mourns legendary rally driver, who shot to fame after taking Mini to Monte Carlo Rally glory.

His sharp wit and effervescent personality made him great on camera, and a true household name - the only rally driver, really, to rival the likes of Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart in this area. To them all, and Paddy’s huge circle of friends, Auto Express extends its deepest condolences. Once his professional driving career ended, Hopkirk moved into several automotive businesses, where his verve and enthusiasm proved equally successful.

Hopkirk won fame with 1964 Monte Carlo rally victory and remained involved in motorsport for the next half-century.

Despite the world championship success of Colin McRae and Richard Burns, and top-level success of Roger Clark, Kris Meeke and Elfyn Evans, Hopkirk remains the last British driver to win the blue riband event. The bug clearly bit, as he progressed to a motorbike and sidecar (the latter added by his father in the hope it would help keep his son safe) and then, while studying at Trinity College in Dublin, acquired an Austin 7, a car that changed his life and set him on his route to stardom. Hopkirk, dyslexic but academically accomplished, hungry for victory but ready to give up success to help fellow competitors in trouble, was a man who had the desire and personality to achieve whatever he set his heart on, and take people on that journey with him.

Belfast rally driver Paddy Hopkirk, who famously won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a classic Mini Cooper S, has died aged 89.

"We would like to extend a special thank you to Paddy for everything that he has done throughout his illustrious career, both for Mini Sport & the Mini itself… Your legacy will live on RIP Paddy Hopkirk.” “As chair of motorsport taskforce and an enthusiast of motorsport I had the pleasure of meeting Paddy on many occasions,” he said. “Paddy won so much, he was a very good driver and a survey at the time revealed he was one of the best known British names. “He was the greatest Northern Ireland driver and he was an extraordinary character,” Mr Hamill said. "But Paddy was the King of the Minis,” he said.

He was sent a telegram by The Beatles after winning in 1964 but was denied a place on the podium in a judging controversy two years later.

Hopkirk visited him in south London – to find that the Harding was his own from half a century before. In the 1966 Monte Carlo he finished third, with his Mini-driving teammate Timo Makinen, who had also won the previous year, supposedly the victor. Hopkirk had smuggled in caviar from the Soviet Union, intending to sell it when he got to France, but instead he and his team had a caviar party. He did not continue driving with Liddon for very long, however: “In the end we had a sort of mild divorce,” he recalled. They were also third overall in the 1962 Monte Carlo Rally, and that year saw the turning point in Hopkirk’s career, when he joined the British Motor Corporation team alongside the Finns, Rauno Aaltonen and Timo Makinen. By the time he was 17 he had saved up enough to buy an old Austin 7, which he rebuilt himself and used to begin rallying.

Paddy Hopkirk, the man who did so much for the mystique of the original Mini with that memorable 1964 Monte win, has died at the age of 89.

Mini’s statement concluded: "We would like to extend a special thank you to Paddy for everything that he has done throughout his illustrious career, both for Mini Sport & the Mini itself… Even as late as 1994 he was rallying, and was one of the first four inductees to the rallying hall of fame. For many enthusiasts it remains impossible to think of the original Cooper S and not picture 33 EJB, the car driven to victory in Monte Carlo almost 60 years ago.

Paddy was famed for stunning the world of motorsport in 1964 by winning the Monte Carlo Rally in the now classic Mini Cooper S – a victory which helped make the ...

On behalf of the Club we send our love & thoughts to his family at this difficult time." He was member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) since 1967. Along with English co-pilot Henry Liddon, Hopkirk became one of the biggest names in British motorsport.