Rauno Altonen & Paddy Hopkirk Test the JCW Cabrio on Rallye Monte Carlo Roads
MINI gave a new JCW convertible to rallye racing Rauno Altonen and Paddy Hopkirk and sent them to the famous roads of Monte Carlo. They talk about the old Monte Carlo rallye, the new JCW and everything in between. This is a must watch video for any MINI enthusiast.
<p>I hope when I’m at the ages of Rauno and Paddy that I too can have this much fun in my MINI. Something to look forward to.</p>
<p>The way the classic footage is woven in with contemporary -turn for turn in some cases- is priceless. Absolutely fantastic editing. Stuff like this is rare. Love it.</p>
<p>Great little video for sure, kinda funny to say but also little doubt one of the two cars (JCW cabrio and classic) is much faster in the straights and one is much smoother and quicker in the corner. Two great personalities in the Mini community that I can honestly say their achievements still impress.</p>
<p>And best of all, this video is completely devoid of angry and freaky twins.</p>
<p>What a great video. I would have loved to have been there to film the experience. I only wish I could rent a jcw somewhere close to Monte Carlo for my own adventure.</p>
<p>Excellent! Nice to see them having fun. Woulda been nice to see Timo Makinen with them.</p>
<p>Nice vid !</p>
<p>But I thought the classic minis still accelerate and corner faster than the new MINI’s, No?</p>
<p>Heck with the twins – I want more of that. You can have the hockey helmet – more furry hats please.</p>
<p>Great video!</p>
<p>Brilliant!</p>
<p>The last line is great. “When you are across the finish, have the prize money and traveled away, then it is certain.” Damn the French!!!!</p>
<p>Brilliant video.</p>
<p>Yeah, but did that JCW cabrio have the JCW suspension? Oh, that’s right… not available for the cabrio. :-P</p>
<p>Just teasing… although it would have been even cooler to see them do it in a JCW hardtop, with a white roof, of course. 🙂 (and yes, the JCW suspension)</p>
<p>Or even the MC40 R53, with all of the JCW upgrades? God forbid MINI put out a new video WITHOUT using the most recent product!</p>
<p>Seriously though, thanks for sharing this Gabe… in spite of my tongue-in-cheek narcissism, it is an awesome vid and I thoroughly enjoyed watching two icons relive some of the steps of their famous accomplishments.</p>
<p>I was lucky enough to be driven at speed round round a slalom track in an R56 Cooper S by Mr Altonen a couple of years ago – still a huge talent, and a gentleman to boot.</p>
<p>Another thing – I’ve tried numerous handbrake turns in a JCW hatch with either the DSC on, the DTC activated, or everything off… and every time the electronics kick back in and stop me playing. Have Messrs Altonen & Hopkirk been removing some DSC fuses to make sure their fun is not interupted, or am I not privy to a secret squirrel way of REALLY turning everything off?!</p>
<p>Brian said “I’ve tried numerous handbrake turns in a JCW hatch with either the DSC on, the DTC activated, or everything off… and every time the electronics kick back in and stop me playing. Have Messrs Altonen & Hopkirk been removing some DSC fuses to make sure their fun is not interupted, or am I not privy to a secret squirrel way of REALLY turning everything off?!</p>
<p>Unless they have changed something major in the DSC programing between the 2006 MCS and the 2007 and newer all that you need to do is just hit the DSC switch and it will turn off the DSC and traction control. I have done numerous e-brake turns in the snow and on ice and the system does not reactivate until I throw the switch. That would be a real buzz kill.</p>
<p>No offense to John Cooper or his son. But if MINI does get into WRC with the R60…</p>
<p>It should be called the Paddy Hopkirk edition or Rauno Altonen edition!</p>
<p>I wish I could download this to have on my Zune HD</p>
<p>This was really great. Thanks for posting it.</p>