Last year, the Mini Sport Mini Cup made its highly anticipated debut as part of the HRCR’s popular ‘Old Stager’ Championship and was particularly well received, with national and international competitors tackling infamous stages, situated across the country. We even welcomed contenders all the way from Japan, to take part in the multi-day events at Rally Isle of Man. For 2016, the Old Stager will return as a new, all sealed surface championship with the introduction of a new, open class for any A-Series Classic Mini built up to the end of production including Mini models that do not fully comply with the historic regulations for the Mini Cup. The Championship will also run historic categories 1, 2, 3 and 4 (inc. FIA Appendix K cars) for other competing classic vehicles, with separate awards rewarded to each category rather than an overall winner.
In 2015, Andrew O’Hanlon returned to rally and took triumph with a Mini Sport Mini Cup Championship win in his 1971 Cooper S Category 2 Mini and with the introduction of a new open class, we hope to see more Classic Mini’s come out of retirement to compete in this thrilling, no nonsense, closed-to-club, stage rally championship. At Mini Sport, we have more than 50 years of motorsport experience and our dedication to race, rally and endurance is still as strong today. As official sponsors of the Mini Sport Mini Cup, we always offer a comprehensive range of equipment and engineering services at discounted rates to make sure all Mini Sport Mini Cup competitors make the most of their rally experience.
Our Motorsport preparation services are first-rate in the application of classic vehicles and Mini’s with an inclusive service centre fitted with state-of-the-art technology and a Rolling Road for an unparalleled simulation of real road driving. With outstanding diagnosis equipment, a dedicated engineering department and in-house rally and race experts our all-encompassing competition preparation process is fully conscious of performance, reliability and safety with brake upgrades, suspension set-ups and wheels and tyres to suit the specific type of event – so all you need to do is sign up and strap in! Please note – we also offer complete restoration services, which have provided us with international acclaim transforming barn finds into rally beasts!
The Old Stager Championship will launch at the HRCR Open Day, scheduled for January 16th at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon and will span across seven rounds located around the UK, between March and September 2016. Most championship rounds will be one-day events to ensure that the championship remains fun and affordable.
The HRCR ‘Old Stager’ and Mini Sport Mini Cup Championship rounds are scheduled as follows:
Round 1 (Saturday 20th March) – AGBO Stages, Weston Park, Shropshire
Round 2 (Sunday 1st May) – Dixies Historic Challenge, Epynt
Round 3 (Saturday 28th May) – Red Dragon IT Stages, Down Ampney
Round 4 (Sunday 12th June) – Garth Tyre and Auto Services Midsummer Caerwent, Monmouthshire
Round 5 (Saturday 6th August) – Carfax Throckmorton Stages, Pershore
Rounds 6 & 7 (Thursday 15th – Saturday 16th September) – Rallyee Classicagh / Rally Isle of Man
For more information, to register & to find out if your car is eligible for the Old Stager Championship incorporating the Mini Sport Mini Cup, please get in touch with John Hunt, Championship secretary through the HRCR contact form which can be found here or via his direct contact address: bhrcsec@btinternet.com. Alternatively, come along to the HRCR 2016 Open Day on January 16th at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, where you can meet with the championship organisers, the Mini Sport team and reflect on the 50th anniversary of the controversial 1966 Monte Carlo Rally.
If you’d like further information on the Mini Sport Mini Cup or any of the Mini Sport Rally preparation services, feel free to give us a call on or alternatively send an e-mail to us directly at rob@minisport.com
