A pair of newly built 1959-spec Austin Minis will take to the track at the 2025 Goodwood Revival, as the St Mary’s Trophy returns to its biennial pre-1960 touring car grid. Best known at Revival for their David-vs-Goliath duels with V8-powered Ford Falcons, 2025 marks the first time Minis have been eligible to compete in the pre-1960 running of the race.
When Goodwood approved Minis for the pre-1960 grid, Austin Cars Ltd joined forces with Owens Fabrication and Swiftune Engineering to build the plucky racers from the ground up.
The Austin Cars name returned in 2023 and sits under the Burlen Ltd umbrella – the company behind SU, Amal and Zenith carburettors, as well as Austin Pedal Cars, which produces many of the pint-sized Austins that compete in the Revival’s Settrington Cup.
‘It’s not really a new idea,’ reports Austin Cars managing director Mark Burnett. ‘Over at Burlen, we’ve been producing a small range of classic car parts under the Austin name for years and in 2020 we set up Austin Pedal Cars, which is such a lovely natural path into the world of historic motoring for young people. The next step was always going to be the production of something for the grown-ups.’
Welsh engineering specialist Owen Fabrication – renowned for its Mini race-car preparation – was entrusted with producing the bodyshells and roll cages for the new cars. Swiftune, meanwhile, a leading builder of race-spec A-series engines, was the natural choice to develop, tune and supply the powertrains.
The result of their work is a faithful recreation of the 1959 Austin Mini. Fed by a single SU carburettor, both cars feature a less powerful 850cc A-Series engine, rather than the more powerful versions seen in later models. Other pre-1960 touches include the ‘wand’ gear lever and Farina Grey paintwork. Deviations from period specification include subtle alterations to the bodyshell and trim and wheels.
Goodwood’s editorial and content director Will Kinsman explained: ‘Our brief to Austin, Swiftune and Owens was to produce cars that look like “your Mum’s Mini, which you’ve borrowed for the day, painted a number on the side, and taken racing without telling her”. The attention to detail that has gone into creating cars that are distinctly different from the Cooper S-spec cars that we normally see racing is a credit to all concerned.’
Mark Burnett and Swiftune director Nick Swift will race the cars at Goodwood alongside former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Darren Turner.
