In the mid-1980s, the 'Group B' race category of the World Rally Championship inspired the wildest, most powerful rally cars ever built.

The MG Metro 6R4 was born out of this short-lived turbocharged era and Austin Rover's optimistic thirst for motorsport success after the TR7 V8 and TR8 rally cars had hung up their competitive boots.

The entire project was the brainchild of Austin Rover Motor Sport Chief, John Davenport.

Davenport decided to follow the lead of Audi's revolutionary permanent 4WD transmission, and once the green light was given, he collaborated with the best engineering brains in the land.

Patrick Head and John Piper from Williams F1 were brought onboard as not only were Williams the best F1 team at the time but they were also sponsored by the company.

In December 1982 the finished prototype was delivered to Cowley for in-house development to begin.

However, it wasn't until 1984 that the 6R4 was introduced to the press in order to quell increasing speculation sur...