Miguel Sánchez
In 1991 Mazda gave a real surprise at Le Mans thanks to its 787B. Equipped with four rotors capable of delivering a combined 700CV, this was the first rotary-powered model to win the iconic endurance race. This way, the japanese manufacturer wrote a new page in mechanical history of it, just as Renault did in 1978 winning with its Alpine A442. The first turbocharged model capable of climbing to first place after 24 hours of non-stop rolling.
That being the case, the truth is that in Le Mans Not only have piston-aspirated engines appeared in various displacements, angles or designs. Far from it, throughout its hundred years all kinds of technical innovations have always been recurring as a test or desperate attempt to win. In fact, for decades this race was the best technological showcase for a multitude of brands, which left not a few resources and efforts to get hold of it. And yes, although it may seem striking, one of them was a sober and adequate Rover.
Full of English phlegm thanks to models like the P5 although, to tell the truth, she herself was the one who installed a powerful V8 of American origin in this saloon. That is to say, although at first it may seem like a reference far removed from competition, benefits or racing, Rover has not a few episodes where technology has been put at the service of speed and the sensations. In fact, this quality goes back a long way.
Moreover, the beginning can be placed more than a century ago. Thus, when Rover only manufactured motorcycles, it did so in a safe and reliable way. A priori, quite far from the sports itinerary marked by other brands such as Norton or Peugeot. However, in 1913 he equipped his official squadron with various prepared units of the 500 TT. And wow, the result was immediate, getting the team victory in the Senior TT on the Isle of Man that same year.
In short, just one of the distanced -but recurring- episodes of Rover in the competition. However, for our story we have to wait 32 years for the next moment of interest. This way, in 1950 Rover unveiled its tests with turbine engines thanks to the JET1. A prototype that, borrowing that still experimental aeronautical technology during World War II, flirted with the idea of a land vehicle capable of generating up to 70.000 revolutions per minute.
Curiously, although at that time Rover was fully immersed in the development of a range made up of simple and very British touring models, its management agreed to continue investing resources in turbine engines. So things, at the beginning of the sixties he had already created up to four prototypes equipped with this mechanism. On paper very interesting due to its simple design with few parts but, on the track, really complex to adjust.
All this without counting the excellent quality -and therefore manufacturing cost- required in each and every one of the elements designed to withstand spectacular rates of rotation. Nevertheless, in some stubborn way at Rover they had insisted and tried everything possible with their turbines. Placing such an engine even in the prototype of a saloon with signs of reaching series. In fact, Chrysler was taking it even more seriously. Launching a pre-series with dozens of units of his Turbine Car in 1963.
What's more, the intention of that fleet was to develop an extensive testing program where customers of the brand were involved. Just as Citroën would also do with its M35 equipped with a rotary engine. That being said, the truth is that that was a failure. Failure extended to Rover because it never took that project of a futuristic sedan with a turbine to series. However, the English house did not want to throw all those efforts into oblivion either. For this reason, in 1962 he set his sights on the showcase represented by the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
ROVER-BRM WITH TURBINE, DIRECT TO LE MANS
During the sixties, the 24 Hours of Le Mans were a particularly striking technological showcase. This way, any issue that occurred there enjoyed an evident echo in the press. What's more, this happened even if what happened had not been part of the race. In this way, Rover dressed its latest creation with a turbine in an open body -Sport Prototype style- in order to exhibit it during a demonstration lap prior to Le Mans 1962.
Thus, the expectation placed on that technology was of such a caliber that the English brand was encouraged to attend the following year's edition with competitive overtones. However, by not having an adequate infrastructure for the competition decided to join forces with the British Racing Motors team. A complete history of F1, which was also experiencing the beginning of a period of success, achieving runner-up in the constructors' title from 1963 to 1965.
At this point, BRM mounted the Rover-built turbine engine on a chassis derived directly from its F1 cars. In addition, he covered the whole with an aerodynamic bodywork made entirely of aluminum. In short, the Rover-BRM didn't just look spectacular. but also totally credible for success at Le Mans. Now, given the originality of the turbine mechanics -capable of going up to 55.000 revolutions per minute- the organization of the race did not know very well where to approve this vehicle.
Because of this, in 1963 he participated in an unofficial way with BRM drivers Graham Hill and Richie Ginther taking turns until completing the race. Something that, without a doubt, it was already a success in itself by demonstrating how the Rover-BRM had obvious reliability despite his risky mechanical gamble. Likewise, he touched 240 kilometers per hour as top speed on the Mulsanne straight.
Thanks to these good results, the Rover-BRM duo revalidated their presence in the 1964 edition. Entering, this time, in the official classification. Specifically in the two-liter series. Regarding the mechanics, the turbine was set at about 150CV including a series of improvements with which fuel consumption was drastically reduced. However, bad luck wanted an accident to ruin the illusions placed in that vehicle. And boy, not because this one lost control and crashed. But because the transport that was carrying him had a serious mishap.
However, at Le Mans 1965 the turbine-powered Rover-BRM reappeared with Graham Hill and Jackie Steward at the wheel. Two references that, without a doubt, They showed the seriousness with which both the brand and the team had taken the possibilities offered by this vehicle with a turbine.. In fact, if it hadn't been for a serious overheating problem, they could have been much better. Something that, however, did not prevent two obvious successes. First to finish the race. And, furthermore, to do so in a creditable twelfth overall position and second in his class.
By the way, all this in a starting grid dominated that year by the Ferrari 250 LM of Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt. At the service of the North American Racing Team led by Liuigi Chinetti. However, the impossibility of moving forward with the turbine research program –Rover was already fully immersed in renewing its range around the V8 recently acquired from Buick - made that participation the last of this model at Le Mans. Despite everything, a true success as well as mechanical excellence.
Photographs: british racing motors
