World-renowned circuit racer, Bill Richards, is hoping for further success when, later this month, he swaps asphalt for the snow-covered Alpine roads of the Monte Carlo Historique Rallye. With navigator, John Morrow, competing as “Minispares- Mad Dog Rallying”, he will set off from the Turin start on 28th January 2012.

Richards, who runs a well-known engineering and engine tuning business in Ashford, Kent, will campaign a 1965 1293cc Morris Mini Cooper S owned by Seattle-based co-driver, John Morrow. The car is a close replica of the fabulously successful vehicles built by BMC Competitions Department in the 1960s and which won the Monte Carlo outright on three separate occasions. The Mini, which was restored in the Bill Richards Racing workshops is currently undergoing extensive preparation for the event.

This Monte Carlo Historique is one of the most gruelling rallies in the world and the team will have to cover 2500 Km including 14 special stages over narrow, snow and ice-covered, mountain roads before they reach the sunshine of the Mediterranean. Richards and Morrow will be competing against more than 320 other cars including a dozen classic Minis.

Co-driver Morrow says, “2012 is the 50th anniversary of the Mini Cooper participating on the event and there will be a lot of interest in how the car can perform against its rivals half a century after it was first produced; the Monte is an extremely competitive event but we are very well prepared and are hoping for at least a class win."