The first BMWera Rollers
Quirky soapbox racers are now an iconic part of RollsRoyce’s heritage Rolls-Royce has completed the restoration of two iconic soapbox racers, known as RR-0.01 and RR0.02.
These unique vehicles, which triumphed in the Goodwood Soapbox Challenge, hold the distinction of being the very first fourwheeled creations (are they “cars”?) by RollsRoyce under BMW’s stewardship.
Between 2000 and 2013, the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK included a particularly thrilling event known as the Soapbox Challenge. This competition, defined by its highspeed, gravitypowered racers, saw carmakers competing for glory down a steep hill.
The event was the stage for RR- 0.01 and RR0.02’s victories in 2001 and 2002, with RollsRoyce’s
then design director, Ian Cameron, at the helm.
In an impressive display of speed and engineering, Cameron reached a top speed of 116km/h during the final year of the challenge in 2013, securing the Newton Apple trophy.
The restoration of RR-0.01 and RR0.02 is emblematic, marking the vehicles as the first creations of Rolls-Royce in the “Goodwood era”, post its acquisition by BMW.
This period was inaugurated after a prolonged bidding war with Volkswagen for the iconic British brand, with BMW emerging victorious and subsequently launching its first modern automobile, the Phantom, to a customer on the stroke of midnight, 1 January 2003.
The RR-0.01 is constructed from fibreglass, carbon fibre, and aluminium, while RR-0.02 is crafted from aluminium and carbon fibre, enhanced with with leather trim.
The latter also features a formula racing steering rack and tubular tyres for minimised rolling resistance.
The restoration project, undertaken by a dedicated team of apprentices, was not just about repairing the wear and tear suffered during the heat of competition; it was also an act of preserving and celebrating Rolls- Royce’s long heritage and a watershed moment for the future.