Marcos Racing & Mini Marcos Racing

There are innumerable race wins attributed to the Mini Marcos and of course there was that Le Mans triumph. The first ever win however was at Castle Combe, in 1965 on its debut race. A Janspeed prepared car, driven by Geoff Mabbs, lapped all but one of the opposition on its way to victory.

The TransXL Mini Marcos, which appeared in 1977, and was driven by Stephen Roberts, featured lightweight construction, was fully rose jointed, had a special rear axle, Formula One brakes and a removable front. Powering this Land Speed Record-holding and Modsports-winning car was a purpose built 1480cc engine. This car is the most successful Mini Marcos ever built and because of the championship starts-to-wins ratio, it is one of the most successful sports racing cars ever built. In 98 races, the car won 36 times, came second 27 times, third 11 times. After 1979, due to this success, the car was exhibited at the London Science Museum, and then the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu. Currently it resides in America, still resplendent in its TransXL livery.

The Rae Davis Racing Team had always seen the competition potential in this marvellous little car, and when the opportunity came for Rae to race his Mini Marcos at the Goodwood Revival Historic Race meeting in 2003 all stops were pulled out to prepare it to the highest standard. The race would be for Sports GT Racing Cars of the type that would have raced ay Le Man up to 1966. The race went well with Rae finishing 4^th overall and the highest placed small engined car, the only cars that headed him home were an Alfa Romeo T22, a Porsche 904 GTS and an Alfa Romeo T21. The amazing performance went down a storm with the 60,000 strong crowd, many of which thronged around the car after the race to get a close up look and take pictures of this giant killing racer.

Another great historic event for which the car was entered was the 2004 Le Man Classic, on the full circuit, 13.650 KM, this time Rae was partnered by ITV Formula 1 pundit Tony Jardine. There sterling performance, racing against much bigger and powerful cars again wooed the crowd, and its amazing top speed of 146 MPH on the Mulsanne straight was really something to be seen, and even at that incredible speed the car ran straight and true and sat flat on the track.

Other events where the car shone has been in the “Top Hat” racing series, running in the “Cloth Cap” class for 50’s and 60’s sports cars, always the one to win the 1300cc class, and never far behind the leading lightweight “E” Type Jaguars and Lotus Elans.

Marcos XP

More recently Pete Crudington’s Granny Smith Racing Mini Marcos Mk IV, driven by Ollie Howell, won the ‘Fastest Mini in the World’ title at Silverstone in August 2004.

Marcos Racing at LeMans

The ex-Jackie Stewart Gullwing Marcos

We are looking for all Marcos Racing information Inc photos, car details, history, race programs, and literally anything related to the racing exploits of the marque. Send or email us your photographs and details to help us build the ultimate and only Race History of Marcos Cars. All material sent will be returned immediately and treated in confidence if required. We need to hear from all you drivers from the sixties and seventies, you have a wealth of knowledge and information we need, and some hitherto unseen photographs, go on share it with us and relive the good old days.

Silverstone 1972, Ian Gemmell, David James, Brian Norris & Rory bringing up the rear!

LM600 Race Car

M A R C O S H E R I T A G E

E n g i n e e r i n g w i t h E l e g a n c e

Marcos Heritage Ltd, Littleton Garage, Semington, Nr Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 6LF

Tel: 01380 871717 Fax: 0 1380 870923 sales@rory.uk.com