Rover SD1/Vitesse Group A

[chunterer]

Guys n Gals!

Already got a similar Capri thread going (which seems to be petering out?!) but it made me think of the phalanx of SD1's that graced domestic and continental shores in the 80's.

I'd like to set the ball rolling on recounting the cars in their heyday and try to determine what happened to them. (what the heck lets include the Group 1 and 2 cars as well!!)

Lets explore certain mysteries?

I.E. Did the original DPR Grp 1 cars pass over to TWR to be constantly developed until the end of '82?

Did the Grp 1 cars become the Group A cars for '83 or were they new builds?

Were the '83 TWR BTCC cars the same 3 that appeared in '84?

And what about the '84 Bathurst 'Mobil' cars...were they a couple of the Sanyo cars repainted and did they then stay in the Antipodoes for the early '85 New Zealand races, again repainted in Brown 'Peanut Slab' liveries?...
And did they stay over there owned by the likes of Tim Slako (who ran one in a rather shocking pink and green scheme!)

Here's an outline of cars i know raced - can we explore what happened to them later on?

In '82 there were:
2x TWR (Allam & Lovett/Sytner)
2X Patrick/Martin Thomas (Muir + spare)
1x Dennis Leech

1983
Ocassional 1 or 2 TWR in ETC
3x TWR (Allam, Lovett, Soper)
1x Leech
1x Spice (Martin Thomas run?)
1x Charles Sawuer Hoare (Red 'Daily Mirror' Rouse run)

1984
3 x TWR ETC (2 'Fleet' and one 'Gitanes' and later 'Barclay'
BTCC
3 x TWR (Pond, Lovett/Schlesser & occasionally Soper ('Fleet') were these '83 cars or new ones?)
1x Neil McGrath ('Connells', ex Spice then still run by Martin Thomas)
1x Leech
2x Rouse (His own 'ICS' & CS-H's red car)
Also 2 cars in Germany Kurt Thiim and Olaf Manthey? who ran them?

1985
3 or 4 ETC TWR cars 'Bastos'
BTCC
1x Rouse (pETE hALL)
1X Leech
1x McGrath (now white instead of green)

after that it's a bit hazy

1986
3X TWR ETC
BTCC
Hall, Leech, McGrath
Mike O Brien (ex Hulme TWR TT winner '86?)
Tom Walkinshaw ETC car one off

1987
Tim Harvey (ex Rouse/Hall)
Skid Scarborough (ex McGrath?)
Brian Chatfield (ex Bastos)
Bill Griffin (ex TWR Marlboro Rene Metge French car)
Dennis Leech
May have been another car too?

I think Nigel Garrett's current car is the ex Rouse/Hall/Harvey/Derek Hales car?

It'll be interesting to find out more detail here and if enough comes of it then we can move it to the chassis thread depending on how many are still knocking about!

[Steve Holmes]

Only one Rover came to New Zealand in 1985. I can't remember who co-drove with Walkinshaw. I have a photo of the car somewhere so will track it down. It was white, and sponsored for its Kiwi races by NZ magazine 'More'.

The following year (January 1986) Walkinshaw brought two Rovers, painted brown and sponsored by NZ chocolate company Whittakers (Peanut Slab). Have to say, the brown paint didn't look too good on those cars, not that it looks much good on anything else!

They were lovely cars, sounded beautiful, but didn't live up to expectations on either occassion on the tight, bumpy Wellington street course. I guess they were happier on the fast sweeping European circuits. Interestingly, TWR brought two Jaguar XJS' out in January 1987, he rcieved special dispensation for them to compete, and they went extremely well.

One of the Bastos Rovers now resides in New Zealand, in the South Island, and competes in Historic events. The Bastos livery is completely original. Interestingly, its actually hand painted, not stickers! Heres a photo of it from Ruapuna this year:

http://www.centralmusclecars.co.nz/p.../rnd4_906.html

[KA]

Originally Posted by chunterer

And what about the '84 Bathurst 'Mobil' cars...were they a couple of the Sanyo cars repainted and did they then stay in the Antipodoes for the early '85 New Zealand races, again repainted in Brown 'Peanut Slab' liveries?...
And did they stay over there owned by the likes of Tim Slako (who ran one in a rather shocking pink and green scheme!)

I'm not 100% about this, but I think the Tim Slako car in Australia might be ex-Rouse- possibly the Sawyer-Hoare car? Can't recall where I got that from, (possibly a Bathurst annual?), although I think that car may have been mentioned on here in the past. There was at least one other Rover appeared at Bathurst around 86 or so (John Donnelly I think), but pretty sure that was locally built in Australia, so possibly outside the scope of this thread

A few more randon thoughts/vague memories:

You mentioned the 'German' cars in 84- don't forget they ran on into 86, when Thiim won the DTM- they also made the odd ETC appearance. Think the team name was something like 'Nickel'?
http://www.zandbak.net/classic/86bergischeloewe/004.jpg

A couple of Belgian-entered cars ran in the Spa 24-hours in 88- could these have been ex-TWR?

From memory, one of the 86 TWR cars was sold to Japan -ran at the Fuji race at the end of the year in the hands of Jeff Allam and a local driver, and presumably stayed there- I've got a pic from Autosport somewhere showing it in Bastos livery but with the Japanese sponsor's logos replacing Bastos.

One may have gone to Sweden- According to Frank de Jong's ETCC history website, Kaj Bornebusch, who ran a Sierra in the 88 ETCC, also fielded a Rover at the Nogaro ETCC round that year- (think one of the drivers was his daughter?) and I've got a vague memory that he may have used the car in a couple of 1987 ETCC rounds

Doesn't Jeff Allam own one of the TWR/Bastos cars- think he bought it when the TWR collection was sold off a year or two back?

[glyn parham]

Good excuse to post some photos of the cars.

Andy Rouse in 1984


Neal McGrath


Olaf Manthey at Spa (1984)


Dennis Leech


And finally, the Gitanes car from 1984


Sadly I have no idea of what happened to any of these cars but am I right in thinking that at least one of the TWR cars ended up in Brian Chatfields collection?

Glyn

[Jesper OH]

The Kaj Bornebusch car was most probably an ex-TWR car. All white on red 17" Speedline rims, like the TWR-Pacific "sponsored" ETCC entries of 1986. Kaj himself drove this car in Sweden and other nordic contries during 1987, but might have bought the car the year before. A picture from the 1986 Anderstorp-ETCC race suggest 4 Rovers on the grid - 2 Bastos cars and 2 white ones, of which I think one would be the Pacific-car, while the other could be the Bornebusch-car.

There was a third Rover in Australia as well. British Production Saloon Car entry for Barry Robinson/John Jefferey in the 1985 Bathurst race.

The German Rovers were entered by Frieder Nickel of Autotechnich Nickel (ATN), and as far as I know build in Germany, although the engines of at least the '86 car was from TWR. The first car was entered at least as early as 1983 (pre-DTM), with Armin Hahne winning the final round of the Deutsche Rennstrecken-Pokal. For '84 and '85 Austin Rover Deutschland sponsored the DTM effort. Olaf Manthey and Jörg van Ommen was signed as drivers for the first DTM (known as DPM at the time). Van Ommen took three poles from the first six races, but crashed a lot and was subsequently dropped by the team. Dieter Selzer replaced him for the remainder of the season, while Manthey finished 2nd in the championship.
Cut to a one car effort for '85, with Manthey again finishing 2nd, while Walter Mertes drove a few races in the second car.
1986 was a private ATN effort sponsored by Toshiba with Kurt Thiim as driver and eventually champion. Thiim and ATN started the 1987-DTM with this car as well, before their Alfa 75 Turbo was ready, if it ever were! Peter John drove a Vitesse in the '87 Norisring DTM-race, which most probably the ex-Thiim car.

Of the Japanese effort my notes suggests an Austin Rover Japan (sponsored by Dunlop) entry for Suguro Akaike as main driver. Partnered by Jeff Allam for the '86 Fuji 500 and Swede Eje Elgh for the first four races of '87. Kenny Acheson replaced Elgh for the sixth round, while no Rover appears for round 5, which also counted for the World Touring Car Championship. Best result for this six race campain was forth at Sugo on September 20 1987.

Curious about those two Belgian Spa '88-entries. Blue as main color, but not painted/decorated to the same scheme (I have only seen these cars during Eurosport TV reports)

Recently I found an ex-TWR Vitesse on a Spanish web address (which I've at the moment have forgotten) Fits the description of the Bornebusch-car above but with Ronal rims.

Best regards
Jesper

[DPUZEY]

The following chassis list has been kindly provided by Dave Puzey of the SD1 Club. It is a comprehensive summary of the TWR Group A Rover Vitesse chassis that ran as 'works' Touring Cars and Rallying between 1983-87.

The Rover SD1 Club has also been looking into the history of the race cars and recently published the following article spread over 2 issues of the club magazine. Thought it ought to be reproduced here. The article is based on the same information Ken Clarke has, and he approved the article before it was published.

The club is now in a position to publish a list of cars built and what events they were used on. The club is aware of which cars still exist and where they are.

In total 18 cars or chassis were built over a 4 year period. Some of them had very varied lives. Apart from the engine difference, single or twin plenum and numerous suspension developments the most visible difference is in roll cage design. Early cars from 1983 and 84 had straight forward steel rollcages installed by Gartrac, the 1985 and 86 cars had more complicated alloy cages from Matter. All bodies started life on the production line at Cowley, although the later ones were built without any of the sound deadening and sealant added!

Don't forget at this time the SD1 was still in production so the supply of parts particularly body panels was very easy and quick meaning that even quite substantial damage could be rapidly repaired. These were competition cars not road cars! One major event that had an effect on some cars was the Shawcross investigation and the protest following the 1983 Trimoco saloon car championship, Austin/Rover withdrew from the 1984 championship part way through the season.

The Cars – 1983

Chassis 1 - The first car was used in the French Production Championship by Rene Metge and Jean-Louis Schlesser in 1983 and 84. The shell then became a show car and ended up in the Heritage Collection at Gaydon.

Now being rebuilt to full Group A spec and Marlboro livery by Ken Clarke for the 2014 season on behalf of an unnamed customer.

Chassis 2 - This was the Hepolite sponsored car driven by Steve Soper in the 1983 Trimoco championship and a few European Touring Car (ETC) championship rounds and won the Tourist Trophy race at Silverstone. One of the few TWR SD1s to be tested by a magazine, Jeremy Walton drove it.

Now owned and being rebuilt to 1983 spec by Ken Clarke for the 2014 season.

Chassis 3 - This started life as a Sanyo car in the Trimoco championship in 1983 driven by Peter Lovett and also took part in the 1984 championship up until Austin Rover withdrew. The car was then converted into a rally car and became B565AOX, one of 2 Computervision rally cars, driven by Tony Pond, Marc Duex and Mike Stuart in various British and European rallies. Its final works event was the RAC Rally in 1985 with Mike Stuart driving. The car was then sold as part of the package that Del Lines bought in 1986.

Chassis 4 - Another 1983 Trimoco car, this time for Jeff Allam. It also took part in the 1983 Spa 24 hour race in 1983. Then campaigned in 1984 up until the ARG withdrawal. Late in 1984 it was repainted in white Mobil livery and shipped to Australia where it won its class in the Bathurst 1000 race. It returned to the UK and was the second car in the Del Lines package. This car was initially sold to Clive Faine/Linden Racing, then sold on to Richard Potter who ran the car in the 1987 British championship, David Carvell was the driver and the car was updated with a TP engine and suspension. The cars last appearance on a major event was on the 24 hour race at Spa in 1988 where is was painted dark blue and sponsored by Eurodefi.
Believed to have been written off in a major shunt in Belgium that season TBC.

Chassis 5- The only left hand drive car. After a shake down run at the Donington ETC meeting, it took part in the 1983 Belgian championship with Eddie Joosen, Steve Soper and Rene Metge driving. The car was sponsored by Barclay and also took part in the 1983 Spa 24 hour race. The car then transfered to the French Production Championship in Marlboro colours in the hands of Marc Duez in 1984 and Jean-Louis Schlesser in 1985.

This car is now in New Zealand and is close to full restoration in Marlboro colours by the current owner, Allan Dippie

Chassis 6 – The first purpose built rally car sponsored by Herbie Clips, this car appears never to have been fitted with the black plastic B/C post trim. Started life registered as FJO450Y and had a major accident on the 1983 Bianchi rally. It was rapidly repaired probable including a new shell for the 1983 Manx rally although it did not finish. The car appeared on the Mintex rally (Tom Walkinshaw driving) registered as A379VUK and the Ardennes rally (Marc Duez driving) in 1984 registered as A684NJO. The car was repainted in daily Mirror colours and Tony Pond drove it on the Hunsruck and Manx rallies, winning its class and 3rd overall, this time registered as B564AOX. The car was sold as B564AOX and took part in various rallies, notable the RAC Rally in 1986 and 1987.

The Cars – 1984

Chassis 7 & 12 – New car for 1984 this is the only early car with a white roll cage all the others were black, and was the Gitanes sponsored car that Eddie Joosen, Jean Pierrie Jabouille, Armin Hahne and Tony Pond drove in various ETC rounds including leading at the 1984 Spa 24 hour race. For 1985 it was substantially rebuilt and renumbered as chassis 12 and was used in the early part of the season in Bastos colours. At the end of 1985 it was repainted in Brown and metallic gold colours of Whitaker Peanut Slab and shipped with chassis 8 to New Zealand for a number of events in early 1986, now back as chassis 7. On return to the UK it was updated to Twin Plenum spec, repainted in Bastos colours and took part in the Spa 24hour race. Then at the end of 1986 it was shipped to Japan and took part in the Fuji race with Jeff Allam driving. Chassis 7 then stayed in Japan for several races and was repainted in Austin Rover Japan colours.

This car is rumoured to still be located in Japan and is being hunted!

Chassis 8 – First of the Fleet sponsored green and white cars. Driven by Marc Duez, Steve Soper and Armin Hahne in various ETC events. For 1985 it was repainted in Bastos colours, then was repainted the same colours as chassis 7 and shipped to New Zealand for a number of events in early 1986, these cars were still single plenum cars as the Twin plenum updates had not been homologated in early 1986.

Chassis 9 – The last rally car built. Initially used by Tom Walkinshaw in Daily Mirror colours, it was repainted in Computervision colours for 1985 and registered B563AOX. The car did various British internationals but was written off by Tony Pond in a huge accident on the Manx Rally that year.

Chassis 10 – The second Fleet sponsored car and driven by Marc Duez, Steve Soper and Jeff Allam in various ETC events. This car was written off in the famous huge accident at Woodcote at a very wet Silverstone Tourist Trophy in 1984.

Chassis 11 – Brand new car painted in Mobil colours and together with chassis 4 took part in the 1984 Bathurst 1000. The car was repainted in MORE colours and raced in New Zealand in early 1985.

The 1985 cars were the first to use the alloy Matter roll cages and were all white inside. There does not appear to have been a chassis 13!

Chassis 14 – This car was initially used in the French Production championship driven by Jean-Louis Schlesser in Marlboro colours. These cars had a variation of the deep chin spoiler and a different boot spoiler fitted, also some different Twin Plenum set ups were tried as the French rules allowed such modifications. For 1986 the car was updated to full proper Group 'A' Twin Plenum spec and appeared in a number of liveries, Bastos, South Pacific Racing, Herbie Clips, Watson and Istel. It is the car that won the Tourist Trophy in 1986 driven by Jeff Allam and Denny Hulme. The car took part in the 1987 and 1988 Spa 24 hour race in private hands, sponsored by Eurodefi in 1988 as sister car to chassis 4. Chassis 14 has appeared at SD1 Club nationals in 2003 and 2006.

Currently owned by Brian Kershaw in a collection with no plans for it to race.

Chassis 15 – This car was a Bastos liveried car driven by Jeff Allam, Armin Hahne and Jean-Louis Schlesser in various ETC races in 1985.

Chassis 16 - This car was a Bastos liveried car driven by Tom Walkinshaw, Win Percy and Hans Heyer in various ETC races in 1985.

Chassis 17 - This car was also a Bastos liveried car driven by Tom Walkinshaw and Win Percy in various ETC races in 1985. It won at Nogaro and the Tourist Trophy at Silverstone. However it was written off in a major first corner accident at Zolder. The suspension and numerous other parts were used by Dennis Leech in his BTCC championship black and orange car.

Now in the hands of Charlie and Chris Williams in Bastos livery competing in the MRL Touring car Trophy series.

The 1986 cars were all built as Twin Plenum cars with alloy cages. During the season they had side mouldings and rear wash wipe added!

Chassis 18 – Another Bastos liveried car driven by Jeff Allam, Denny Hulme, Jean-Louis Schlesser and Gianfranco Brancatelli in various 1986 ETC rounds including the Spa 24 hour race.

This is currently in New Zealand owned by Allan Dippie and races regularly in Classic events over there.

Chassis 19 – Another Bastos liveried car driven by Tom Walkinshaw and Win Percy. This car remained in Tom Walkinshaw's private collection and appeared at the 2004 SD1 Club National Day. Was bought by Jeff Allam at the TWR auction.

Now owned by Belgian BL/ARG enthusiast Bert Smeets and can be seen in various classic touring car events in Belgium and the UK.

Chassis 20 – The final car built. Sponsored by South Pacific Racing, Herbie Clips, and Watson, it took part in various ETC rounds, and the Macau race. This car appeared at the SD1 Club national and the NEC show stand in 2006.

This is owned by Tim Morley, is in Bastos colours and it is hoped it will be racing again in 2013 or 2014 in the MRL Touring Car Trophy series.

At the end of 1986 Rover withdrew from Group 'A' racing with the SD1. A number of other 'works' associated rally cars were built and these will be reviewed in a future article. Thanks to Ken Clarke and Brian Kershaw for help in preparing this list. There are numerous stories and rumours about the TWR SD1 cars, however this information all checks out. The club would be interested in any further substantiated information about the TWR race and rally cars.

Dave Puzey
Chairman & Treasurer
Rover SD1 Club

[Adam43]

001 is back up for sale in three weeks http://www.classic-auctions.com/Auct...Car-33536.aspx

[chunterer]

Chassis 001 restoration now complete by Ken Clarke and owner Richard Postins is racing it in the UK and Europe this year!

002 is now at rolling chassis stage and awaiting engine, gearbox and some mechanical items. Completion date hoped to be late 2014 or early 2015.

Another chassis is in the very early stages of a ground up rebuild but not sure which one.

Nigel Garrett's car is now fully rebuilt to 1984 ICS title winning livery (and presumably mechanical spec). It is likely to be out at Goodwood FOS and possibly the Oulton Gold Cup MRL TCC round in August.

[chunterer]

Little updated on the cars still in existence copied from the main thread.

Just thought I'd do a quick add up of cars known to be in action or owned in storage.

TWR 001 (Marlboro) R Postins. Racing in historic touring cars.
TWR 002 (Hepolite) K Clarke. In process of rebuild and hoped to be on track again in 2015.
TWR 003 (Computervision) rally car under restoration in UK
TWR 005 (Marlboro) A Dippie. Near completion in New Zealand.
TWR 006 (Daily Mirror/Unipart) rally car in UK
TWR 007/012 (Gitanes) In Japan, still to be located.
TWR 010 (Fleet) Chassis stamp/plate and parts owned by K Clarke with intention to build a car up in future.
TWR 011 (Mobil Bathurst) Now up and running in Peter Auto events.
TWR 014 (Bastos but likely to be reliveried to Istel?) A Scott purchased from B Kershaw late 2013 and now in NZ having been upgrade to include modern cage).
TWR 015 (Bastos) Shell in hands of D Holder?
TWR 017 (Bastos) chassis was written off but lot of the main parts/running gear in Chris/Charlie Williams's Bastos liveried ex Dennis Leech car.
TWR 018 (Bastos) A Dippie. Racing in NZ historics.
TWR 019 (Bastos) B Smeets. Sometimes racing in UK and European historics.
TWR 020 (Bastos) T Morley. Yet to be seen in UK historic racing....

Also:

Nigel Garrett's ICS Rouse car. Now totally restored seen at Goodwood FOS 2014 and expected to be out in selected events in 2015.

[Peter Mallett]

TWR 19 is now in the hands of JD Classics.

[chunterer]

When did Bert sell it? Shame was hoping to see him out in it again next year.
However, I suppose we will see it in the series they support anyway?

[terryobeirne]

I know this is an old thread, but i'm chasing anyone with 1st hand experiences with the grroupA SD1 Rovers, especially mechanical aspects like engine and suspension. i may have an opportunity to be involved with one.
thanks

[Peter Mallett]

He sold it last year. Not surecwhere they'll run it though.

[Peter Mallett]

Contact Ken Clarke Motorsport on 07885202808, he built them originally. Mention my name.