A pair of Minis has been built to compete in the St Mary’s Trophy for the first time ever at the Goodwood Revival.
The 2025 race reverts to pre-1960 cars, opening up the chance for Austin Cars Ltd to create its two competition cars. Plans are in place to create more of these cars, with the potential for road use, too.
Both of the Minis have been meticulously built to 1959 specification and they will be driven by Darren Turner and Karun Chandhok.
Austin Cars Ltd has drafted in Welsh firm Owens Fabrication to produce the bodyshells and roll cages, as well as assemble the cars to race trim without losing their production car feel.
Famed A series engine builder Swiftune supplies is building, testing, and supplying the full race engines.
Mark Burnett, Managing Director of Austin Cars Ltd, said: ‘Swiftune and Owens are not only long-term friends of Austin Cars but they also happen to produce the fastest, most reliable classic Mini race cars and A-Series race engines in the world. There was no other option in our quest for perfection.’
The cars have been built to accurately reflect the early production Minis from 1959 with subtle differences made to the bodyshell and trim, steels wheels, and the ride height has been raised to replicate the body roll of the earliest racing Minis.
Both race cars will feature less powerful versions of the famous A-Series engine than their later production cousins, fed by a single SU carburettor, and with the ‘wand’ gear lever of the original 850cc Mini. Presented in Farina Grey, an original 1959 Austin colour, the two team cars will line up on the St. Marys Trophy grid for the first time ever at the 2025 Goodwood Revival.
Mark Burnett said: ‘It’s not really a new idea. in 2020 we set up Austin Pedal Cars, which is such a lovely natural path into the world of historic motoring for young people. The next step was always going to be the production of something for the grown-ups, something basic but fun, soul-stirring and memory inducing, no frills motoring, simply because we can. The Austin Cars cup of tea has been brewing for quite a while!’
The cars will be driven in the St Mary’s Trophy race by Mark Burnett and Nick Swift, along with Turner and Chandhok. Burnett teasingly added: ‘What a way to showcase Austin Cars and who knows, perhaps their debut provides a hint of our plans for the future.’
