The MG Metro 6R4 stands apart from virtually every other Group B machine of the mid-1980s: where its rivals relied on turbocharged four-cylinder engines, Austin Rover went with a normally-aspirated V6 and a mid-engine, four-wheel-drive layout conceived in collaboration with Williams Grand Prix Engineering. This 1:18 resin model by Spark Model captures car No. 12 as it ran at the Tour de Corse on 5–8 May 1986, driven by Didier Auriol and Bernard Occelli.
A Williams-Engineered Group B Outlier
The 6R4 designation decodes the car's architecture directly: 6-cylinder, Rear-mounted (mid), 4-wheel drive. Developed by Austin Rover Motorsport with technical input from Williams Grand Prix Engineering, the car was homologated for Group B in 1985. Its 2.0-litre V6 — a normally-aspirated unit in an era dominated by turbocharged power — was a distinctive engineering choice that set it apart from its contemporaries.
Round 4, 1986 WRC — The Race That Changed Everything
The 1986 Tour de Corse, Round 4 of the World Rally Championship, was held on 5–8 May 1986 across the mountain roads of Corsica. The event is remembered above all for the fatal accident of Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto in their Lancia Delta S4 — a tragedy that directly accelerated the FIA's decision to ban Group B. Auriol and Occelli were among the Austin Rover entries contesting that same Corsican asphalt. Their car, No. 12, carried a red and yellow livery consistent with Austin Rover Motorsport's works colour scheme of the period — a scheme less frequently replicated in scale form than the better-known Computervision white. Auriol went on to win the WRC Drivers' Championship in 1994, giving this early entry an obvious historical resonance. Occelli is also widely recognised for his championship successes alongside Carlos Sainz.
Spark Model: Resin Construction at 1:18
Spark Model produces this car in resin at 1:18 scale — the same material and approach the manufacturer applies across its 1:18 rally range. Resin allows precise surface detail and accurate panel geometry without the tooling constraints of diecast, making it the preferred medium for low-volume, high-fidelity rally replicas. The model replicates No. 12's red and yellow livery, race numbers, and the characteristic wide-arch bodywork that made the 6R4 instantly recognisable on the stages of the 1986 season.
Frequently asked questions
Who drove car No. 12 at the 1986 Tour de Corse?
Didier Auriol and Bernard Occelli. Auriol went on to win the WRC Drivers' Championship in 1994, and Occelli is also recognised for his championship successes alongside Carlos Sainz.
What makes the MG Metro 6R4 unusual among Group B cars?
It used a normally-aspirated V6 engine in mid-engine position, developed with Williams Grand Prix Engineering — most Group B rivals used turbocharged four-cylinders.
What material is the Spark Model 1:18 replica made from?
The model is constructed in resin, which is standard for Spark Model's 1:18 rally range.
Why is the 1986 Tour de Corse historically significant?
The rally, held 5–8 May 1986, is remembered for the fatal accident of Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto, which directly led to the banning of Group B by the FIA.
