MG Metro 6R4 best 80's rally car ever !!

[RS500]

The MG Metro 6R4!!

In the early 1980's an attempt was made to revitalise the old Competitions Department and through the efforts of this a saloon car racing challenge based on the Metro model was set up. This became a successful series which still runs to date in a number of guises : standard, MG, and Turbo Metro series. Arising from this original outset into motor sport came an attempt to establish the Metro as a rally car.
At the time, competition in this field had moved from the modified standard cars of the sixties to a breed of highly developed homologation specials, featuring large engines, four-wheel drive, and all sorts of devices undreamed of twenty years earlier. The Metro developed for this kind of competition was code named the 6R4, and was a mid-engined four-wheel drive saloon, which beared a resemblance to the Metro although it was actually built on a Maestro floorpan!

The engine was a V6 unit which had been derived from the Rover V8 engine which has been seen in numerous vehicles including the MGB. The engine had effectively had two cylinders removed, was fuel-injected, and had been mounted in what would have been the back seats of the Metro model. This whole package was offered in limited production, for homologation purposes, at a price of around 25,000 pounds.

As a competition car, the MG Metro was only a mild success, winning only one major rally, before it was ruled out of contention by changes in rallying's international rules just as the development was beginning to get the car into success.
Even though the car was ruled out of international rallying scene, it was still ideal for a number of other areas of motorsport. This is especially true in Rallycross, where the 6R4 continues to be successful, and a major force today. Other areas of motor sport where the 6R4 is still used include : one-make race series, hillclimbing, and sprinting, where it's sheer brute force, light weight, and aerodynamics continue to make it a very competitive car.


A Little More History
The International career of the MG Metro 6R4 was a short one, but not as a results of the car being a failure. In fact it was the cars success and other rally cars like it, that led to it being banned from World Championship Rallying. It is only now being reconised as one of the 'classic' Group B rally cars of the mid eighties, and it is also taking it's rightful place as a genuine part of MG history.
Back in 1985 the Lancia Delta S4s dominated the RAC Rally, taking first and second overall, other cars that should have been contenders to finnish in the top three were the Peugeot 205 T16's and the AudiSport Quattro's, but it was a British car in third place, and it was the MG Metro 6R4, driven by Tony Pond and Rob Arthur.
The other works Metro driven by Malcolm Wilson failed to finnish, with variuos problems which could not be repaired, these being a front differential failure, a dodgy gearbox and the power steering also gave some trouble. The car had in fact come a long way from it's early development, after starting life as a 2WD car, powered only with a 1500cc engine. After the success of the 1985 RAC Rally, Austin Rover opted to compete in a limited number of events in the World Rally Championship of 1986, with the intention of making a bigger effort in 1987.
But after a series of tragic accidents, the governing body of the sport, FISA, took measures to halt any further chance of more fatal accidents, which were attributed to the speed of the cars, and Group B Rally cars were banned as of 1 January 1987. (Is it really ten over years ago?)
Motorsports governing body the RAC, allowed the MG6R4 to continue in National events, in the Clubman form, this meant that former works cars had to be fitted with a de-tuned engine. For a car to be eligiable to compete for World Championship events, 200 cars have to be built, these could be purchased, ready to race for 40.000K (UK pounds), and of course when the ban came into force in 1987, Austin Rover still had a lot on the shelf!

So as the little car's career came to an abrupt end in the International arena, it was just begining it life in the Uk's rally scene.

Specifications


The 6R4 Project was first announced in Febuary 1984.

Built under contract by Williams Grand Prix Engineering.

It started out as 2WD , later permanent 4WD was developed

It was Mid Engined

250bhp-12v- 3 litre-V6 (Modfied 3.5 litre Rover V8, as fitted in the MGB GT V8)

Later Specifications of the engine increased the power to 400bhp

Unlike other Group B cars, it was not Turbocharged, but Fuel Injected.

















Tony Davis MG Metro 6R4

[Threedoorboy]

I love these cars!! some people say they are ugly Did you know jaguar used the engine in the XJ220?

[Andycos]

These cars sound awesome as well as look it, and can still be seen at a few rallies & hillclimbs..
Iv'e seen the late Tony Pond and John Price drive these Metro's and they rock..
What sort of money do they change hands for these days ??

[Willid1]

From the 1986 RAC rally, Tony Pond and Malcom Wilson driving if I remember correctly.

I remember seeing Tony Pond driving one of these at the Birmingham Superprix, and taking the mickey out of all the "roundy round" drivers who were afraid of the barriers. His comment was something like "trees or barrriers, it's all the same, they should paint some trees on the armco then I'd feel at home".

David

[RS500]

Yes I know

[RS500]

Here are some 6R4 Vids
Ex-Will Gollops 6R4
This 6R4 was probably the most powerful 6R4 ever made and certainly the most successful. Its twin turbos produce approximately 750bhp at 2bar boost from its 2.4ltr engine. After winning the European Rallycross Championship two years on the trot, rule changes by the rallycross governing body forced Will Gollop to sell the car. It is now used in the Midlands Hill Climb Championship





Shelsley Walsh - Instruments 9000 rpm redline




Shelsley Walsh - In Car




Mapping MoTeC Electronic Magament Systhem




Testing Launch Control

[^Mick^]

Here is a pic i took of Will in the 6R4 at Brands circa 1988ish

[RS500]

Nice Pic!!!

[^Mick^]

It was taken from the back of the pits, just as he was coming round from "hoppys drop" (think thats what its called)

[RS500]

Some more 6R4 Pics at Rally Supercar day 02

[Filcorz]

hello I'm new here im trying to find a logo on the Malcolm and/or Pond Metro during the Lombard RAc 1986 is is possible that someone know or may have one.