Mini Pays Homage to Monte Carlo Rally Win With JCW 1965 Victory Edition

Mini is marking 60 years since its second overall win at the Monte Carlo Rally with a new special edition hot hatch called the John Cooper Works 1965 Victory Edition. The model pays tribute to the famous 1965 victory secured by Timo Makinen and co-driver Paul Easter in a classic Mini Cooper S. It is based on the current three-door Mini hatchback and will be offered as a limited-production model to mark that rally success. For those who track Mini’s racing history, this edition brings the brand’s motorsport roots into its modern JCW line.

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It combines the look and feel of the old rally car with the performance and tech expected from a current Mini, while keeping the production numbers low to reflect the importance of that Monte Carlo result.

Mini JCW 1965 Victory Edition: Design

The exterior sticks to a clear theme linked to the original rally winner. The car comes in Chili Red with a Glazed White roof and mirror caps. A white stripe runs from the bonnet over the roof and to the rear.

The doors carry a white 52 graphic, the same number used by the winning Mini in 1965. It sits on 18-inch JCW Lap Spoke two-tone alloy wheels, and the floating hub caps remain upright even when the wheels are turning.

Mini JCW 1965 Victory Edition: Interior

The cabin uses black synthetic leather seats with red stitching. Other surfaces feature a mix of recycled polyester and knitted fabric. The door sills light up with 1965 lettering, and a plaque inside marks the limited-run status. The Nappa leather steering wheel gets a 1965 motif on its lower spoke, and the key cap carries the race number. A panoramic glass sunroof is part of the standard equipment.

The feature list includes a head-up display that shows speed and navigation in the driver’s line of sight. The central circular OLED display runs Mini Operating System 9 and supports voice commands and drive modes like Go-Kart and Green. The car also gets a parking assistant, 360-degree camera system, Harman Kardon sound system, heated sports seats and a wireless charging tray.

Mini JCW 1965 Victory Edition: Engine

Powertrain options for the MINI 1965 Victory Edition extend across three variants. The Cooper S uses a 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 204bhp and 300Nm, completing 0 to 100km/h in 6.6 seconds. The MINI John Cooper Works version delivers 231bhp and 380Nm, sprinting from 0 to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds. The fully electric MINI John Cooper Works Electric produces up to 258bhp and accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds.

Production will take place at the Oxford plant, with deliveries set to begin in the second quarter of 2026, and the rollout will also include a fully electric JCW variant for select markets.