1984 MG Metro Turbo Group A - Works BSCC/ETCC entry, ideal for Patrick Peter and Motor Racing Legends

Built for the Austin Rover factory by Roger Dowson Engineering, the flame-spitting Metro Turbos were a full factory effort to conquer the 1984 British and European Touring Car Championships, with big budgets and big sponsors were behind the project. Immediately the car was blindingly quick despite its diminutive size and lack of engine capacity compared to the big Rovers, BMWs, Jaguars, Alfas and Mitsubishis battling it out at the front, not surprising considering its excellent power-to-weight ratio. Always the fastest car in Class B, the 230bhp Howley Racing-prepared turbocharged engine, special Jack Knight gearbox, very trick suspension, and of course Group A slick-shod, centre-lock wheels were enough to easily get the cars in the top 10 overall, and often seriously embarrass the big capacity factory cars.

Our car, running number 35 for all bar one of its races is known as the Brundle/Harvey car - gaining the following results across the 1984 season:

• -  Donington Spring International (BSCC) - DNF (gearbox) - R. Brundle
• -  Silverstone BRDC International Trophy (BSCC) - 1st in class (8th OA) - R. Brundle 
• -  Oulton Park (BSCC) - 1st in class (7th OA) - R. Brundle 
• -  Thruxton International - 2nd in class (8th OA) - R. Brundle
• -  Thruxton BARC (BSCC) - 3rd in class (10thOA) - R. Brundle 
• -  Silverstone European Trophy (BSCC) - DNF fuel pump (Class Pole in Quali) - R. Brundle 
• -  Silverstone Istel RAC Tourist Trophy (ETCC) - DNF (rear hub) - R. Brundle/T. Harvey/P. Watts

Following Austin Rover's withdrawal from the BSCC, the '35' car ended up, totally as it last raced, in the British Motor Museum at Gaydon. Since then the car has been mechanically rebuilt by Roger Dowson, while retaining all the original works parts that made this such a rocket-ship in 1984.

As can be seen by the speed of Patrick Watts and Nick Swift these days in the ex-works MG Metro Turbos, these little cars are true giant-killers. Eligible for Motor Racing Legends' HTCC and Patrick Peter's HTC, the factory Metro Turbos offer serious competitiveness for a fraction of the cost of the other works Group A or Group 2 cars.