Group C Rover Vitesse

[racer69]

I thought the first Rover's to race in Australia were the Group A Mobil Rover Vitesse's in the 1984 JH 1000 with Hahne, Allam, Soper and Dicksen, but apparently one raced in Group C trim in the early 80s. Anyone know anything about this car, who drove it, who prepared it, how long was it used for, where to get a pic of it and so on.

[Crash Test]

Good Question!

Ray Bell?

I know a poster on here, FalconEl, used to have a lot to do with Group A Rovers when his old man raced one for many years...

[Morris 1100]

I remember one racing in series production, group E in 1981 I think. Milton Leslight it think it was. And the story was that it was going to race as a Group C under 3500 class that the ARDC started that year but the BMW 635 scared them off plus Bathurst was changed to 8 cyl,6 cyl and Rotaries,4/5 cyl. classes instead of capacity classes.It was entered in an Amaroo meeting as a Group C but it ran Group E instead.

[FalconEL]

The Rover Vitesse was a pretty rare breed, although a very well built car. It's strong points were it's nice log wheelbase, beautiful handling and strong, sweet sounding little aluminium 3.5 litre V8. This was my fathers Group A version at Surfers Paradise Raceway in 1986.

I do remember a car being entered at Bathurst one year during the Group C era by a guy called Jim Hunter, although I'm pretty sure the car did not turn up for the race.

I remember the Mobil cars being unloaded from their transporter at Bathurst 1984 and they looked fantastic and went like missiles that year.

CD.

[racer69]

It is a pity that JRA didn't run any Rover's in Australia. The cars were very competitive in Europe under TWR, and i think Ron Dickson was meant to race one in the ATCC in '85, with JRA support, but it never raced.