For 1965, BMC prepared a team of 1275 cc Mini-Cooper S models, including AJB 44B which claimed an outright victory in the Monte Carlo Rally for 'the Flying Finn' Timo Makinen and co-driver Paul Easter.

On this occasion, the Mini-Cooper S ran in Group 3 guise, which meant that it was substantially non-standard, with lightened and simplified bodywork and a highly-tuned engine.

The 1965 Monte was one of the most difficult on record, with blizzards between Chambery and Monte Carlo. In spite of this, Makinen's car gained only one penalty on the road sections and on the run from starting points to Monte Carlo, AJB 44B was the only unpenalised car.