Now that’s what you call a Metro!
Date published: 07 July 2009
AS hobbies go, Oldham-born Phil Ibbotson’s is pretty unusual.
Phil spends several weekends a year driving a Metro car around forests, fields, quarries and moorland competing in the British Cross Country Championship, a race series of six events with venues across the UK.
Driving a Metro perhaps doesn’t sound too exciting - but Phil’s unique machine is like no other Metro.
The usual small engine has been replaced by a powerful BMW M3 unit fitted in the rear of the vehicle where there used to be seats, the gearbox is a six-speed sequential racing one and the car has four-wheel drive.
Every other mechanical part has been chosen to provide exceptional performance and reliability.
“I’ve competed in off-road racing for many years and in 2005 I decided I wanted a new car, something different from the usual Land Rover and buggy type vehicles that take part in the events,” said Phil.
“I was a big fan of Group B rallying in the 1980s and one of my favourite cars was the MG Metro 6R4, a car based on the road-going Metro but fitted with a three-litre engine in the boot and four-wheel drive.
“The rally car itself isn’t suitable for off-road racing but I set myself the challenge of building a replica car designed to withstand the extremely tough terrain used for off-road events.”
Phil, who works for First Choice Homes, started his challenge using a road car that he got for free from a neighbour. He visited the owner of a real Metro 6R4 to see what parts would be needed to start the conversion from bog-standard road car to off-road racing machine.
“I had the main shell of the car made in fibreglass to keep the weight down and then my friend and fellow competitor Gordon Monaghan, from Preston, built the spaceframe, rollcage and suspension. He also mounted the engine and fitted the gearbox.
“It took me a further 12 months to complete the build and make the car ready for competition. I had the bodyshell painted in the same blue and white colour scheme as the cars I saw competing in the 80s.”
The car was finished in late 2006 and Phil competed in three small events to check everything worked as it should. The following year he entered the British Cross Country Championship, the highest level of off-road competition in the UK, and he achieved some good results.
Last year he entered the championship again, finishing second in his class.
This year he is once again contesting the championship, currently lying second in class after three events .
He is navigated on the events by Will Jefferson, from Littleborough, and the car - sponsored by local companies CV Parts, PSC Hydraulic Pipes and Simtek UK - is a unique machine and a real a crowd pleaser.
Said Phil: “The car always attracts attention at events, especially among the rally people. I think it’s that nostalgic thing of an iconic car that was designed and raced in the 80s.
“People still have fond memories of the 1985 RAC Rally and Tony Pond finishing third on the debut world championship event for the Metro 6R4.
“The championship I’m doing is being shown on the television and we’ve had lots of coverage.
“I’m enjoying the events, the courses have been very challenging and it’s an achievement to get to the finish of each one.
“My aim for the rest of the year is to continue the enjoyment and finish as high as possible in the championship.”
Phil will be in action again in September in the next round, which will take place at Sweet Lamb, in Wales.
