1954 Le Mans 24 Hours

Artist: Charles Avalon

The Monte Carlo Fiasco: Regarded as the toughest event on the rallying circuit, the Monte Carlo Rally has held a special place in motorsport lovers’ hearts since its inception in 1911. Winning the Rally in ‘64, ‘65 and ‘67 gave Mini a great deal of credibility and publicity. It was however the 1966 race that received the most publicity in the event’s history. The first three finishers – all Mini-Coopers – were excluded for a spurious politically-motivated infringement, giving victory to…. the Citroën! The uproar over the disqualification of the British cars somewhat damaged the credibility of the event.