Metro 6R4 Rallycross: Time For Tea?

With the engines going from WRX, time to turn the speakers up on that fabulous V6 Metro

So, it's official: World Rallycross will be an EV sport from 2020. Predictable, if still rather a shame. Because, let's be honest, a huge part of the appeal of motorsport is in the noises made by engines. While the short, intense racing of rallycross arguably suits electric propulsion better than most other series, it will certainly be eerie to hear more noise from screeching tyres and gravel flung up into cars.

While we're not ones to stand in the way of progress - many probably felt putting a car message board on the internet was a silly idea once - now does seem like the perfect moment to celebrate the legendary combustion engined Rallycross cars. And while there's no shortage of contenders, if there's any excuse to feature a Metro 6R4 on PistonHeads then we're going to jump at the chance.

The 6R4 became popular in British Rallycross immediately after Group B's demise, the compact dimensions and punchy V6 making it ideal for the sprint races. No doubt Austin Rover reputedly selling 6R4s off very cheaply when it left motorsport will have helped, too...

The video featured today comes from the British Rallycross Grand Prix of 1990, where three 6R4s are doing battle against a bonkers Mk2 Astra. Not only do you get the furious howl of those 3.5-litre Metros, but the racing is truly spectacular, the top three as dramatic as you would hope from top level rallycross. And the Astra shoots huge flames.

While of course we're not advocating a return to V6 Metros, the move to electric cars will hopefully mean more attention focuses on the classic competitors. And if that can mean more 6R4s are preserved, driven and enjoyed, then that sounds like great news to us - enjoy the vid.