Adrian Reynard to race Rover SD1
Reynard marque founder Adrian Reynard is targeting the Gerry Marshall Trophy race at May’s 78th Goodwood Members’ Meeting for the debut of a new Rover SD1, which he was inspired to build after an outing in a friend’s similar machine at the 2016 event.
Reynard, 69, who won the 1979 EFDA Formula Ford 2000 Euroseries in a car of his own design and construction, also plans to continue competing in Historic FF2000 and Classic FF1600 in Reynard chassis.
The Rover’s debut will be just the third saloon car race start in the career of the mastermind behind championship-winning chassis in single-seater categories from Formula Ford to CART.
“I didn’t get much of a run in Riorden Welby’s SD1 [in Sanyo tribute livery] at Goodwood in 2016,” said Reynard. “I was behind Tiff Needell when his engine blew to smithereens and my stint was behind a safety car. Mine is a replica of Jeff Allam’s 1981 TWR Daily Express car [in which he won the last three British championship rounds]. We found a new shell, which Steve Gray of the Brooklands Motor Company is preparing.
“I’m currently stuck in Spain but consulting on suspension and exhausts and have a proper engine being built. It should be ready for the Members’ Meeting, but I’m hoping there will be time for testing beforehand. I will do Historic Sports Car Club Historic FF2000 rounds, starting in my Reynard 79SF [the last built], but I found team-mate Jeremy Rossiter’s Spax 78SF – in which I scored my first win in ’78 – and am having it rebuilt.”
Reynard also owns his original FF1600 Reynard 73FF, which he reacquired and raced for the first time post-period in New Zealand a couple of winters back, and is restoring a Lotus 7 S2 for some more fun.