Mini Cooper Pat Moss honors first ever international rally victory

Aside from being an iconic British city car, the original Mini Cooper was a giant slayer in the world of rallying. Its most popular victory came in the Monte Carlo Rally, where the classic Mini won thrice in 1964, 1965, and 1967.

But what most people don't know is that it was a woman that gave the classic Mini its first-ever international rally win in the 1962 Tulip Rally, and her name is Pat Moss. Apparently, she's the younger sister of late Formula One driver Sir Stirling Moss, and also made a name for herself by being a multiple-time European Ladies' Rally Champion.

60 years later, Mini is honoring the female British racing driver with the special Cooper Pat Moss edition.

Featuring a special paint job and an interior that pays direct tribute to Mini's racing history, the Cooper Pat Moss edition also recognizes the legendary careers of both Moss and her co-driver Ann Wisdom.

On the outside, the special livery is dominated by the Multitone Roof, where the color gradient shifts from Chilli Red in front to Melting Silver, then finishes off at the rear with a Jet Black paint. A horizontal white stripe crosses the car's headlamps bearing the registration number of the race-winning Mini in the 1962 Tulip Rally.

Furthermore, stylized tulip graphics appear on the Cooper's C-pillars and wheel center caps, while the details of the said 1962 rally are inscribed on the decal placed at the car's front fenders. To finish off the livery, Pat Moss' signature was placed below the headlamps.

The tulip-style accents and Pat Moss tribute details also made their way to the car's interior, appearing on the dashboard, the door sill trims, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Limited to only 800 examples worldwide, Mini plans to launch the car by May 2022. Available in both 3 and 5-door configurations, the MINI Cooper Pat Moss edition follows the specifications of either the Cooper S hardtop or the John Cooper Works (JCW) hot hatch.

The special edition model was revealed together with the celebration of International Women's Day, which “not only commemorates the launch of the classic Mini's extraordinary sporting career but also marks a pioneering achievement for female power in motorsports” says Mini.