50 years after the big victory: Rauno Aaltonen lined up at the start driving the classic Mini in the Monte Carlo Rally Historique 2017

Being able to re-embrace the triumphant moments in life is always a good thing. This is especially so for Finnish “Rally Professor” Rauno Aaltonen, who took a classic Mini Cooper S through France’s Maritime Alps, a rally course that he conquered some 50 years back.  At the recent Monte Carlo Rally Historique, Rauno got into the cockpit of the classic Mini Cooper S and drove the pixie-sized British car over a distance of nearly 1,250 kilometres to Monaco to revive the stunning moments of how he won the 36th Monte Carlo Rally on 20 January in 1967. Rauno’s 1967 win was a particularly symbolic one for Mini. The year before, in 1966, the driver behind the BMW Competition Department Mini Cooper S secured a win at the Monte Carlo Rally, marking the third successive win after the British brand came in first in 1964 and 1965. In a twist of decision, that win was eventually disqualified by race officials that baffled many till today. A year on, in 1967, Rauno’s skills finally saw Mini reclaiming the win - the third win - although the short-built former professional driver humbly attributed that year’s success to a timing of luck. In many ways, the triple wins earned in the Monte Carlo Rally has edged out the quintessential sporting cachet of Mini. (Rauno's Mini Cooper S in the 1967's Monte Carlo Rally) The Monte Carlo Rally Historique lasted eight days, from 25 January to 1 February. Although Rauno and his co-driver, Hans Sylvan, did not drive the exact same car that took them to glory in 1967, Mini prepared an identical model - a Cooper S that competed in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1965 and completely rebuilt by Swedish company Soderqvist Engineering - for the Finnish driver. Despite holding clear memories of the route in the 1967 race, Rauno did not take chances. He surveyed the route of the Monte Carlo Rally Historique (in a Mini Cooper S Clubman of course) and jotted down the important details along the way. After all, the Monte Carlo Rally course is dubbed as the most spectacular and toughest racing competition of its kind.   Whilst the 79-year-old Rauno did not take the winning spot, finishing only 84th out of 275 entries, he was already looking to the next rally race, brandishing a competitive spirit that is typical of Mini.