Northern Irishman, Paddy Hopkirk, a Longtime Rally Driver, dies at 89

Northern Irishman Patrick Hopkirk MBE was a former rally driver. He obtained the MBE distinction in the 2016 New Year’s Honors list.

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Famed Belfast rally driver Paddy Hopkirk dies at age 89

Belfast rally driver Paddy Hopkirk, who notably won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a classic Mini Cooper S, has died aged 89. His success, together with his driving partner Henry Liddon, is the most recent British victory in the event. Mr. Hopkirk’s death was reported by Mini Sport, who stated he died away on Thursday evening. Writing in a statement the group said: “It is with heavy hearts that we are sharing the news with you that our very dear friend Paddy Hopkirk MBE died away on Thursday evening.

“ Paddy was a terrific friend to all of us here at Mini Sport, but so much more than that, he was a part of our Mini family. ” We would like to express a particular thank you to Paddy for everything that he has done over his distinguished career, both for Mini Sport & the Mini itself… He achieved the impossible, he sealed the Mini in history and will be forever recognized as one of the greatest motorsport heroes of all time.

Paddy Hopkirk Age, Family, Early Life

Paddy Hopkirk was born on Patrick Barron Hopkirk on 14 April 1933(89 years old). He holds British nationality. His Zodiac sign is Aries and belongs to the white ethnicity.

On Paddy Hopkirk’s parents, there is currently no information known.

Paddy Hopkirk Wife, What about his Children?

He wed his wife Jennifer in 1967. They have six grandchildren: Molly, Jessica, Fenella, Amalia, Allegra, and Alexander, and three children: Katie, Patrick, and William. In 2005, his wife served as Buckinghamshire’s High Sheriff; from 2006 to 2011, she served as the county’s Vice Lord Lieutenant.

Since his early days in racing, he had been interested in the vehicle sector; by the early 1970s, he was importing Toyotas into Northern Ireland.

Paddy Hopkirk’s Career, What was his profession?

Hopkirk’s first win came in 1953 at the Cairncastle Hillclimb behind the wheel of a V.W. Beetle, reg no EI 5756. He was offered a free Beetle for the 1953 Circuit of Ireland by Isaac Agnew of Belfast. It would be the first of many Circuit entries: the following year he led the Circuit on the first day of the tournament.

He started his winning career in professional racing and rally driving in 1955, capturing a class win at that year’s Circuit of Ireland, and clinching his first Hewison Trophy, presented to the most successful Irish rally driver of the year: he would go on to win the Trophy for three consecutive years. By this time he had moved to a Triumph TR2.

His success in the Triumph was observed by the Standard Motor Company, who offered Hopkirk his first factory drive in a Standard Ten at the 1956 RAC Rally in March of that year, where he seized the early lead before suffering troubles later on. Two months later he took a Standard Eight to third place in the Tulip Rally in the Netherlands – his first excursion outside of Britain and Ireland. However ,he lost his drive with Standard in 1958, after overdriving his car at the Alpine Rally in an effort to make up time lost due to a puncture on the Stelvio Pass, damaging the engine and forcing him to exit from the competition.

BMC Works Team

Hopkirk also traveled to Australia throughout his career to drive for the BMC Works Team in the annual Bathurst 500 event for regular production cars at the Mount Panorama Circuit. He drove in Bathurst in a Morris Cooper S from 1965 to 1967, obtaining a top result of 6th outright and 3rd in class in the 1965 Armstrong 500 when paired with another renowned rally driver, Timo Mäkinen of Finland.

In 1965, he won a Coupe d’Argent at the Alpine Rally. He won the 1965 and 1967 Circuit of Ireland Rally, the 1966 and 1967 Alpine Rally, and the 1967 Rally Acropolis. Hopkirk was inducted as a life member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club in 1967 and is also president of the Historic Rally Car Register and a patron of disability charity WheelPower.

How much is Paddy Hopkirk Net Worth?

The specific data concerning Paddy Hopkirk’s net worth upon death are still not disclosed.

Also Read: Who is Dr. Yen Pottinger? Where does she work? Age and Net Worth

Which school and college did he go to?

Hopkirk schooled at Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare from 1945 to 1949 before attending Trinity College, Dublin till 1953. However, his academic career was held back by his dyslexia.

Is he available on any kind of social media platform?

Paddy Hopkirk is available on Facebook.

Physical Appearance of Paddy Hopkirk’s Height, Weight

Interesting facts about Paddy Hopkirk’s should be knows