Motorsport legend Paddy Hopkirk, who was famous for winning the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, died on Thursday, his family said. He was 89.
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The legend died at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire. The cause of death has not been revealed yet. Paddy Hopkirk is survived by wife Jenny, three children – Katie, Patrick and William – and his six grandchildren.
In a statement on Friday, the Hopkirk family said that the 89-year-old leaves a huge legacy behind.
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“First and foremost, Paddy was a loving husband, father and grandfather. His passing will leave a huge hole in the lives of those closest to him. But Paddy also leaves an incredible legacy of motorsport and business success. His hard work in support of the British motorsport and wider car industry continued until his final days. His family, friends and fans will never forget his sharp wit and wicked smile. He brought fun and joy to anyone in his company and inspired many,” the statement read.
Hopkirk was born in Belfast in April 1933. He started his career with races in Ireland. Eventually, the legend went global and won the won the famous Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini Cooper S in 1964.
As per BBC reports, Paddy Hopkirk started learning basic car control when he was nine. He moved on to a motorcycle with a sidecar.
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Hopkirk went to the Trinity College Dublin to study engineering. He then bought an an Austin 7 “Chummy” Tourer, which was his vehicle on rally debut.
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The 89-year-old then dropped out of university to start working for Dublin’s Volkswagen assembler’s retail operation in Ballsbridge. There, he purchased a string of used Volkswagen Beetles to enter competitions.
Hopkirk’s first win came in 1953 at the Cairncastle Hillclimb with a VW Beetle.
