Motorsports icon Paddy Hopkirk died peacefully at 89 on Thursday, 21 July.
At the time of death, he was admitted to the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire. Paddy is survived by his wife Jenny, his three children, Katie, Patrick and William and his six grandchildren.
Highlights of Paddy Hopkirk’s career:
Paddy was born in Belfast and started his career in 1955 by circuit racing and hill climbs. Before winning the Hewison Trophy, he was awarded the title of most successful Irish driver for three consecutive years.
His most significant breakthrough came in 1956 when The Stanford Motor company offered him a factory drive at the prestigious RAC rally. Later he joined BMC, where he became famous for driving Mini Cooper, even turning the car into an icon.
Paddy Hopkirk teamed up with British motors Corporation in 1960, resulting in success in 1964. The highest point in his career came when he won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, driving alongside Henry Liddon. The victory came after a year of first driving the car at the Alpine rally.
The win led his career to reach its fullest potential; he became a household name and even received a telegram from the UK prime minister Alec Douglas.
Remembering Paddy Hopkirk:
He was considered a good human being, a loving husband and a caring father.
His loss will cause a massive hole in the lives of his loved ones, and he left behind an entire legacy of motorsports and business success.
He also won the iconic Acropolis rally in Greece in 1967, and the same year he got elected as a lifetime member of the British racing drivers club.
He remained influential in the motorsports world his entire life and later went to vice president of the BRDC before becoming president in 2017-2019.
Sad news about the passing of rally legend Paddy Hopkirk. pic.twitter.com/HEP7xeWMx6
— EntirelyClassics (@EntirelyClassic) July 22, 2022
Read Also: Where Is Shihab Chittur Now? Hajj, relatives, and current status
Related
R
