MG Metro 6R4

MG Monday – MG Metro 6R4 – Andy Slade @WiscombePark Manor Farm hillclimb 2021.

The 6R4 was launched by Austin Rover Motorsport in 1984. The development of the 4WD Group B supercar was carried out by Williams Grand Prix Engineering. Early prototype cars were powered by a “hack” V8 based engine, and its first rally win was the 1985 Skip Brown Cars Gwynedd Rally driven by Tony Pond / Rob Arthur.

The car was ultimately powered by a bespoke 3 Litre V6 which was designed by ex Cosworth employee David Wood. Not surprisingly, the architecture of the Austin Rover badged engine was based on the famous Cosworth DFV. Austin Rover had to build 200 cars for homologation – these were road going and tuned to deliver 250bhp. Sold as “Clubman” models for £40,000. Unveiled at a press launch at Knebworth House in May 1985, Ken Wood achieved the first Clubman win a couple of days later on the Sprint Tyres Trossachs Rally in his Golden Wonder sponsored car.

From August to October 1985, the 200 cars were built and signed off and work started on the 20 international spec Group B cars. These cars were tuned to deliver 410bhp. A two car team was entered for the 1985 Lombard RAC Rally – driven by Tony Pond/Rob Arthur and Malcolm Wilson/Nigel Harris with Computervision and Mobil sponsorship. It was a great debut with Tony Pond finishing third only two and half minutes behind the winner, Henri Toivonen in a Lancia Delta S4, also on its debut rally. Marku Alen in the sister Delta S4 was second. This was the best result ever achieved on the international WRC stage for the 6R4.

The car was entered in a number of rallies in ‘86 but was blighted by mechanical failure often related to the engine – cambelts and valve guides – which was lacking in development. Mid way through ‘86, after a number of horrendous accidents, it was announced that cars built to Group B spec would be banned.

In the 1986 RAC Rally, Austin Rover won the Team Award when four 6R4’s finished in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th places. Manufacturers were now exploiting turbo’s and quickly overcoming the turbo lag problems. The Austin Rover V6 was losing out in the power race.

Austin Rover still had a large number of the original 200 cars on site at Longbridge to try and sell. The rallying authorities agreed that providing the cars were limited to 300bhp, they would be eligible to compete on British National rallies. These “Clubman 300” spec cars were quickly sold, often at a massive discount to the original £40,000 price tag.

In 1986, the 6R4 proved its potential when it won 5 Championships including Didier Auriol taking the French National Championship.

The honour of the first international rally victory went to David Llewellyn when he clinched the ‘86 Circuit of Ireland.

Further success was achieved by David Gillanders/Ken Wood winning the 1987 British National Rally Championship winning 3 of the 8 Rounds. Other 6R4’s won 4 of the other Rounds.

When the Austin Rover Motorsport Team was disbanded in 1987 and the 6R4 project abandoned, the remaining spare parts and engines were sold to Tom Walkinshaw’s TWR team. The engine would later be used to power the Jaguar XJ220 after the plans to use a V12 powerplant were abandoned.

The 6R4 continued its success in rallycross. Will Gollop won the FIA European Championship in 1992. That car was powered by a 2.3 Litre twin turbo engine.

The 6R4 lives on with great fondness amongst petrol heads everywhere and rightly so....it could have, and should have, been a World Rally Championship winning car.

@6r4net @Hillclimb_Pdck @Speed_Hillclimb #SpeedHillclimb #Hillclimb @CandSCmagazine @oldclassiccar @BritBuiltCars @RallyingUK #rally #rallycar #MG #6R4