The London Concours, has confirmed the addition of another new class, Built To Race For The Road. This new category will pay tribute to some of the most sensational machines ever created – homologation specials released in small numbers as road cars to allow their participation in elite motorsport series across the globe.
The class includes the model considered by many to be the finest Porsche 911 ever produced, the 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring, a machine that encapsulates the engineering of the German sportscar maker. Developed from the 911S – which had been the fastest standard 911 of the era – the RS was created to allow the 911 to compete in Group 4 racing, and made an immediate impression courtesy of its 210bhp engine, 152mph top speed and distinctive ducktail rear wing. Fifty years on, it is rightly recognised as one of Porsche’s greatest cars of all-time.
It will be joined by another much lauded model wearing the famous Porsche badge, a 959 Komfort from 1992. Originally conceived to satisfy Group B rallying regulations, the 959 was a game-changer upon its launch in 1986, becoming the world’s fastest road-legal car courtesy of a top speed of 186mph. It blends unrestrained Eighties looks with all-wheel drive and a 444bhp twin-turbocharged flat-six engine to deliver monstrous performance that still startles today. The 959’s rarity – only around 340 models were ever produced – and unmistakable design should ensure it attracts plenty of attention.
Germany will also be represented by another pioneer that helped define the motoring landscape in the Eighties, the revered Audi Quattro. The Quattro’s exploits in Group B rallying are well documented, with Audi confounding sceptics by employing four-wheel drive to achieve instant success and set a blueprint for others to follow. The roadgoing version was no less impressive, with around 11,400 cars produced over an 11-year lifespan, all offering compelling real-world performance and tremendous agility. The fact its sharp, edgy design barely changed during this production run has only cemented its status as one of the quintessential cars of its era.
Austin Rover’s MG Metro 6R4, in contrast, did not enjoy the same longevity in rallying as the Quattro – its career was short-lived as Group B was banned in 1986, a year after the car had made its debut. But it made quite an impact during that short period, and the road-ready homologation special is now highly coveted among collectors – in no small part thanks to its unique looks. Featuring a 3.0-litre mid-mounted V6 that offers 250hp, the 6R4 conjures up magical memories of a unique era in motorsport, and only 200 were made.
Lining up alongside the 6R4 will be another model that eschewed subtlety to attain legendary status. Even today the Ford Sierra Cosworth is lusted after by performance car aficionados, such is its reputation. Produced to satisfy Group A regulations in the mid-Eighties, it transformed Ford’s humble family car into a truly desirable tearaway beloved by boy racers with a 2.0-litre turbocharged Cosworth engine that enabled a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds and an official top speed of 150mph.
