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From the '84 Bathurst book it says that the two Mobil Vitesses were the BTCC-cars withdrawn from that championship earlier in the year. Given that the '84 ETCC-series was still running as Bathurst went underway, it makes sence to enter a "back-up" team for the race down under.
Always wondered how Tom Walkinshaw managed to enter two manufactures (although under the same ownership umbrelly) in the same races! Rover was a factory supported team from before TWR took on developing the XJS'. Any clues in this?
Dave Price Racing ran the Rover-programme during 1980 and got Tom Walkinshaw involved for 1981. TWR most have taken full control some time after this as it was this team that developed the future group A Vitesse during 1982. This info from Motorsport November 2003 as is the following info:
The under sized TWR Rover could have something to do with homologated engine size. Both the 3500 and the Vitesse is homologated with an engine displacement of 3542 cc's, but measured to the minimal tolerance it ended up as 3495 cc's (never heard of this "loop hole" before). During the BTCC group 1-era the 3500 could compete in the maximum under 3500 cc catagory, while the Vitesse might have been able to run to a lower weight than with the "big" engine.
Remember some old video of the '83 ETCC races. At the Silverstone TT Gordon Spice is seen in a dark green (or blue?) Vitesse.
So who actually build the group A Rovers? Tom Walkinshaw Racing most have done the majority of cars for a two car BTCC team during '83 and '84 (before withdrawing) 2 and later 3 cars for the entire ETCC-programme 1983-1986 as well as two car for the french Super Tourisme series (don't know excatly when). This could quickly tally those 20 Chris Griffin mentions.
Andy Rouse Engineering running two cars at any given time during 1984, with one car ending in Australia. ATN running 2-3 cars over their 3 years and a bit of running, while John Donnelly build his ATCC car for himself. No clue to the number of privateers in the BTCC.
Jesper
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