LRX828E was built by the famous BMC Competitions Department at Abingdon UK to contest the 1967 European Rally Championship
It was first driven by Rauno Aaltonen (Finland) and navigated by Henry Liddon (GB) in the 1967 Acropolis Rally, retiring after a collision during a special stage
The second international event, the 1967 Danube Rally resulted in Aaltonen and Liddon being stopped at the border into Hungary whilst in a winning position. The Finn was not carrying the correct VISA and was out of the event!
LRX828E was then sold to BMC Australia in time for the 1967 Southern Cross Rally. Driven by Paddy Hopkirk (GB) the vehicle retired with gearbox trouble. BMC International works driver Tony Fall and navigator
Steve Halloran then drove to victory on the Total Australia 500 Rally, the first victory in Australia by an international driver
LRX828E remained in Australia for Hopkirk's return for the 1968 Southern Cross Rally, unfortunately the car retired with clutch trouble
The vehicle then passed to BMC Australia's Evan Green who with George Shepherd drove it to great success in State and Australian Rally Championship events. Colin Bond, Australian Rally Champion and Bathurst winner, stepped in for Evan Green and drove to an outright win on the 1968 KLG 300 Rally
A New South Wales' ban on rallying in the late 1960's prompted BMC Australia's sale of the car to Ballarat BMC dealer E. Collins Motors
From there the car was purchased in 1971 and has remained with BRITISH CAR COMPONENTS proprietor Graeme Urch ever since
In 2002 Graeme, LRX828E and Rauno Aaltonen met at the Australian Grand Prix and are seen here posing for the media
Please click the following pictures to see more detail
LRX828E is restored in Abingdon's traditional Tartan Red and White body colours and represents part of the most successful era of international motor sport for the Mini marque and indeed any single marque in history
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