Belgium rally added to WRC calendar as N.Ireland drops off
Issued on:
08/01/2021 - 18:21 2 min
Paris (AFP)
Ypres Rally Belgium has been included in the revised calendar for the 2021 world championship season, replacing the coronavirus-affected Northern Ireland Rally in August, the organisers announced on Friday.
Although Ypres is a well-established rally in Europe, it is the first time it appears in the world championship and marks the first WRC rally in Belgium.
Ypres was due to host a hastily-arranged rally in November but the spread of the global pandemic, which has killed amost 1.9 million people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, prompted its cancellation.
The limited-run
Mini Paddy Hopkirk edition has been launched at a price of Rs 41.70 lakh (ex-showroom). Based on the 3-door Cooper S, the Paddy Hopkirk Edition pays tribute to the brand’s victory at the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally with Irish driver Patrick “Paddy” Hopkirk behind the wheel.
Paddy Hopkirk edition gets cosmetic differences and added kit over standard Cooper S
Available for booking only via Mini’s online retail platform
Powered by 192hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine
Mini Paddy Hopkirk edition: What’s different? Priced at Rs 41.70 lakh, the Paddy Hopkirk Edition costs a significant Rs 6.6 lakh more than the standard
The MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition pays homage to the classic MINI Cooper S that won the Monte Carlo Rally three times starting in 1964, with the driver Patrick "Paddy" Hopkirk behind the wheel.
Just a few months ago we reported on a special edition MINI named after the one and only Paddy Hopkirk, the man who drove the original Mini to victory in numerous rally events. As you would expect, the Northern Ireland pilot also got one and the video below shares the moment he takes delivery of the car, a special MINI Paddy Hopkirk Limited Edition.
The car itself was launched to mark the anniversary of his inaugural win at the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a classic Morris Mini Cooper S Mk1. The Paddy Hopkirk Limited Edition is based on the MINI Cooper S 3-Door Hatch and available with automatic or manual transmission. The engine delivers 178 HP and 280 Nm torque, reaching 0-62mph in just 6.7 seconds and 0.1 seconds slower if we’re talking about a manual gearbox.