The first Mini was unveiled to the public on 26th August 1959, three years after the design was first sketched out on a napkin by British engineer Sir Alec Issigonis, and became THE iconic car of the Sixties. Appropriately, the brand celebrates its 50th birthday at Silverstone racetrack on the weekend of 22nd-24th May with the third MINI United Festival. The event will feature an action-packed programme which includes a race with 50 classic Minis organised by the Mini Seven Racing Club, a collection of 75 special Minis ranging from ex-Beatle George Harrison’s Mini to Mark Wahlberg’s Mini Cooper 75 from the remake of ‘The Italian Job’ movie and a music festival starring artists like Paul Weller and Chris Thompson (former singer with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band). For more information, please visit www.miniunited.com