In early 1984 at London Heathrow, the assembled motorsport 'paparazzi' witnessed Tony Pond drive through a film screen as the team announced their future rally plans to the public - the MG Metro 6R4 (6 cylinder Rally 4 wheel drive) was born! With a bold marketing step, Austin Rover Motorsport decided to show the cars in the 'classic' red & white livery reminiscent of the team's very successful 1960s Mini Coopers and 'Big' Healeys. A really positive marketing stroke!
Promising that the team would enter national rallies to test the car in the heat of competition, the team reappeared 6 weeks later on the 1984 York National Rally. Despite taking fastest stage times on 8 stages - to lead by almost three minutes! - success was short-lived as the car retired with a previously unseen alternator fire. Even with the low-powered 'hack' engine the writing was on the wall - Austin Rover Motorsport had a rally car which could potentially challenge the might of Europe, and also rekindle the success of its forefathers.
Throughout 1984 the car appeared on a host of other national rallies as the team attempted to develop the car towards its eventual homologation specification. All the developments (including wider track, longer wheelbase & enhanced aerodynamics) improved the handling & stability to such a degree that the Metro 6R4 won its first rally, the 1985 Skip Brown Cars Gwynedd Rally in February.
