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For the 2001 event, renamed the "Winter Challenge", the car underwent major surgery.  Bill Richards rebuilt the engine and his team spent a great deal of time and effort preparing the car for long distance rallying. It was also repainted and fitted with many period extras. Indeed it is virtually identical in both appearance and specification to the works cars produced by the world-renowned BMC Competitions Department in the 1960s. This attention to detail paid off and although the rally weather conditions were the harshest for years John and Tim were delighted to achieve 2nd in class and 13th overall on the marathon route. The little car didn't miss a beat throughout. Furthemore, along with fellow competitors Ken and Phil Baynton, also in a Cooper, they raised nearly £2000 for the Meningitis Research Foundation.  

In 2002 John and Tim trod new ground in a different event, namely the Automobile Club de Monaco's Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. This is the genuine article. They competed as part of the five member Cooper Car Company Team organised by Peter Barker. The other team members and or their cars had all seen a great deal of rally action and John and Tim have definitely moved into a different league. As some compensation for their lack of experience, their trusty equaliser had been upgraded to a full house 1293cc "S" specification; the 998cc Cooper has been moved on although its works-like registration was retained along with some of the period rally parts. Their new improved version of PRX 720B, which now develops 100bhp at the wheels, underwent extensive testing throughout the year and should have enabled John and Tim to remain competitive in their class.  

John and Tim were looking forward to the 2002 event with eager anticipation (and a little trepidation). Details of their stage results were posted on their own website which was updated several times a day in order that fiends and family could follow their progress.  

The rally started at Reims, northern France on Saturday 26th January and finished in Monte Carlo on Wednesday 30th January. This was the first time since 1968 that the Cooper Car Company team’s name had returned to motorsport circles. Michael Cooper had kindly agreed to lend the name to a team organized by well known UK rallyist Peter Barker and the Mini Cooper Register. The team was also sponsored by MiniWorld who reported on the event. The Cooper Car Company team won the F1 championship in 1959 and 1960 with drivers Jack Brabham and Roy Salvadori. Then, with John Rhodes and Ginger Devlin it went on to dominate touring car racing circuits in the mid and late 1960s. In 2002 it is set to re-enter the competitive arena once more (although strictly speaking it did not engage in rallying in the 1960s; this activity was left to the BMC Competitions Department). The Team were very aware that they were following in the tyre tacks of some legendary drivers and were a little apprehensive, especially considering the event fielded some formidable opposition including F1 drivers Jean Alesi and Erik Comas as well as former Monte Carlo Rallye winner, Jean Ragnotti. Nevertheless John and Tim take took the view that the journey is the reward and just getting to Monaco with crew and car intact would itself have been a major achievement. But it would have been wonderful to win the coveted team prize….!The sight of 5 red and white ex-works and Special Tuning cars in active competition against droves of Renault Alpines, Porsche 911s and Lancia Fulvias was both nostalgic and awesome.

We must not forget their support team either, Chris/Kate and John/Tim were supported by a service crew comprising of Mike Terry (Production Editor, MCR Magazine), Gary Tennant (Chris's brother) and Colin Harrison.

John will be providing us with full account of this years exploits in the very near future so please visit this page soon for further tales of historic rallying.

Cooper Car Company Team Final results
Peter Barker/Willy Cave	20th overall
Tony Arnold/Tony Jolly	67th overall
Chris Tennant/Kate Price	158th overall
Peter Sandeman/Andrew Kilby	190th overall
John Morrow/Tim Woods	210th overall