By 1961 he had acquired the confidence to see himself as a potential driver in his own right: the confidence was not shared by team manager Marcus Chambers, and Elford purchased a race-tuned Mini which he rallied as a privateer with limited success before selling it at the end of the season.
En 1961 adquiriu a confianza suficiente para verse a se mesmo como un piloto potencial por dereito propio, a confianza non foi compartida polo director do equipo Marcus Chambers, e Elford comprou un Mini de carreiras tuneado co que participou como privado con éxito limitado antes de vendelo a finais de tempada.