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Northern Irishman, Paddy Hopkirk, A Longtime Rally Driver, Dies At 89
Northern Irishman, Paddy Hopkirk, a Longtime Rally Driver, dies at 89, #Northern #Irishman #Paddy #Hopkirk #Longtime #Rally #Driver #dies Welcome to O L A S M E D I A TV N E W S, This is what we have for you today:
Northern Irishman Patrick Barron Hopkirk MBE was a former rally driver. He obtained the MBE distinction in the 2016 New Year’s Honors list.
Famed Belfast rally driver Paddy Hopkirk dies at age 89
Belfast rally driver Paddy Hopkirk, who notably won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a classic Mini Cooper S, has died aged 89. His success, together with his driving partner Henry Liddon, is the most recent British victory in the event. Mr. Hopkirk’s death was reported by Mini Sport, who stated he died away on Thursday evening. Writing in a statement the group said: “It is with heavy hearts that we are sharing the news with you that our very dear friend Paddy Hopkirk MBE died away on Thursday evening.
“ Paddy was a terrific friend to all of us here at Mini Sport, but so much more than that, he was a part of our Mini family. ” We would like to express a particular thank you to Paddy for everything that he has done over his distinguished career, both for Mini Sport & the Mini itself… He achieved the impossible, he sealed the Mini in history and will be forever recognized as one of the greatest motorsport heroes of all time.
Paddy Hopkirk Age, Family, Early Life
Paddy Hopkirk was born on Patrick Barron Hopkirk on 14 April 1933(89 years old). He holds British nationality. His Zodiac sign is Aries and belongs to the white ethnicity.
On Paddy Hopkirk’s parents, there is currently no information known.
Paddy Hopkirk Wife, What about his Children?
He wed his wife Jennifer in 1967. They have six grandchildren: Molly, Jessica, Fenella, Amalia, Allegra, and Alexander, and three children: Katie, Patrick, and William. In 2005, his wife served as Buckinghamshire’s High Sheriff; from 2006 to 2011, she served as the county’s Vice Lord Lieutenant.
Since his early days in racing, he had been interested in the vehicle sector; by the early 1970s, he was importing Toyotas into Northern Ireland.
Paddy Hopkirk’s Career, What was his profession?
Hopkirk’s first win came in 1953 at the Cairncastle Hillclimb behind the wheel of a V.W. Beetle, reg no EI 5756. He was offered a free Beetle for the 1953 Circuit of Ireland by Isaac Agnew of Belfast. It would be the first of many Circuit entries: the following year he led the Circuit on the first day of the tournament.
He started his winning career in professional racing and rally driving in 1955, capturing a class win at that year’s Circuit of Ireland, and clinching his first Hewison Trophy, presented to the most successful Irish rally driver of the year: he would go on to win the Trophy for three consecutive years. By this time he had moved to a Triumph TR2.
