A 1985 TWR Rover SD1 Touring Car in the International Pit Garage at the 2017 Silverstone Classic
The Rover SD1 is both the code name and eventual production name given to a series of executive cars built by British Leyland (BL), under the Rover marque. It was produced through its Specialist, Rover Triumph and Austin Rover divisions from 1976 until 1986, when it was replaced by the Rover 800. The SD1 was marketed under various names. In 1977 it won the European Car of the Year title. In "SD1", the "SD" refers to "Specialist Division" and "1" is the first car to come from the in-house design team. The SD1 can be considered as the last British Rover, being the final Rover-badged vehicle to be produced at Solihull, as well as being the last to be designed largely by ex-Rover Company engineers. Future Rovers would be built at the former British Motor Corporation factories at Longbridge and Cowley; and were to rely largely on Honda engineering. he Rover SD1 saw considerable success in Group A touring car racing in the mid-1980s. Among its major successes were: Steve Soper and René Metge won the 1983 RAC Tourist Trophy driving a Rover Vitesse Andy Rouse won the 1984 British Saloon Car Championship driving a Rover Vitesse. Jeff Allam and Armin Hahne won the Group A class and finished 12th outright at the 1984 Bathurst 1000 in a Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) Rover Vitesse. Tom Walkinshaw and Win Percy won six rounds (Monza, Vallelunga, Donington, Silverstone, Nogaro and Jarama) of the 1985 European Touring Car Championship driving a TWR Rover Vitesse. TWR Rovers won five rounds (Monza, Donington, Anderstorp, Zeltweg and Silverstone) of the 1986 FIA Touring Car Championship. Kurt Thiim won the 1986 DTM championship driving a Rover Vitesse. In touring car racing, the L Rover V8 engine produced approximately 340 bhp (254 kW; 345 PS) by 1986. The SD1 also saw use as a rally car in 1984 and 1985, contesting the British Rally Championship in the hands of Tony Pond. Pond won the Group A category of the 1985 championship, but the car was retired at the end of the seas
Size: 5616px × 3744px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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