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What's under the bonnet..... I mean in the boot ?
The engine is a 'standard' 1.8 but with the following modifications
Handling and Braking Department
The suspension has been stiffened up a little and a predetermined ride height set. The brakes use competition linings, otherwise they are standard calipers and discs, with the dics being grooved to help remove brake pad debris. Mintex pads used.
The Race Chassis
The car is fitted with Dunlops all round ( D98J 'S' 205/50 x 15 )
The ride height as already mentioned has been reduced,to 325mm,this has been
achieved with relatively minor mods.
All mountings, front and rear subframe, rear damper, lower damper, have been
hardened or reinforced.
Cosmetics & Safety
An addittional slot has been put into the front bumper just in front of the oil cooler matrix. A revised hardtop is fitted to the car to enclose the rollcage. The air bag has been removed, along with some interior trim. A shorter gearstick is also featured in the competition car There is a 10 point roll cage fitted, extra side padding around the drivers area. The contour hugging Cobra race seat is bolted directly to the floor pan, and comes with a full restraint, 5 point saftey harness. Quick release pins are fitted to the bonnet and boot. There's a fire extinguisher system which will discharge into the engine bay and under the facia.
All the components for these modifications can be purchased through Rover Sport.
This modified MGF works well on the track but will also be equally happy on the road. It has been highly praised by former rally driver and now Rovers MGF test driver, "a drivers car" he said, a car you can drive to work on a Monday and race at Silverstone on a Saturday.
The MGF race car is a very good package and certainly holds with that famous slogan "Saftey Fast" , Cecil Kimber would have been proud !
It must be noted these are the race specs at the start of 1996, as the season progressed so did the development of the car, so some of the specifications have changed. We will endevor to bring you up todate with the 97 specs as soon as possible.
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MGF to make debut !
The all new MGF is about to make it's racing debut in the UK on Saturday 16 March, at Silvestone.
Don Kettleborough is to campaign the MGF in this years MGCC Phoenix Challege. The car is a hardtop version and has been especially prepared for the coming season by GAYDON TEAM SPIRIT, a group of Technicians and Enthusiasts who have been working in their spare time at Rovers test facillity at Gaydon.The car will is to be raced in almost complete standard road form, apart from a few minor modifications in the suspension department. These will be similar to the mods Kettleborough made to his Group N Metro, which in fact he took to class victory in the 1994 National Saloon Car Cup
We will keep you informed of the MGF's progress throughout the Anglia Phoenix Challenge season, and wish 'Gaydon Team Spirit' good luck for 1996.
As soon as we hear we will let you know.
MGF Cup
Japan -
The first MGF, and one of 25 set aside for the forth coming MGF cup in Japan was handed over to Osam Morikawa of Rover Japan at the Castle Combe circuit.
The White MGF with its very eye catching go faster stripes was test driven around the Wiltshire cicuit by Osam and a small army of Japanese journalists, all sporting I expect a some very expensive cameras around their necks ! The test session was under the careful guidence of the Rover test and development driver Tony Pond, who said that he was convinced that the MGF was destined to become a very successful clubmans car. At a racing promotion last year in Japan Rover Japan were inundated with interest from propective buyers and not less than 47 competitors applied for cars.
The four race series starts in July at Tsukuba. The series will be extended in 1997 when another batch of cars will be allocated.
France -
The French like their autosport as much anyone and Rover France are also running an MGF Trophy in 1996, the cars will be built to the same specification as those in Japan. They are planning to run four races: Two tarmac rallies and a couple of hillclimbs.At the moment there is no official Rover backed MGF race series in the UK, but the MG Car Club are keen to see their members run MGF's in competition and it is thought that at least 2 are set to be hillclimbed. For anyone that is intereted there is already a comprehensive source of competition part available from Rover Sport.
Roversport News
November 1996
After a recent review, The Rover Group is to make several changes to it's motorsports programme. The hugely succesful Rover 200 Cup has been scrapped, this is the first move to shift emphasis away from the Rover Marque. The even more succesful Rover Turbo Cup has however survived for the 97 season, but with a much reduced level of supportfrom the Rover Group.
As yet an MGF race series for the UK has not materialised, but the MGF Cup in Japan and the muti-disipline MGF Trophy contested in France wil be once again on the calendar for 1997, beyonnd that....?
It looks as if Rover are scaling down their involvement in motorsport as they consider to how it will fit into their future marketing plans.
Lets hope they can at least maintain some support for the MG Marque
This site is maintained on behalf of the Cambridge & District MGOC
by Kelvin Fagan mg.maestro@mgcars.org.uk
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