Rover-B.R.M. Details

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30110, 19 April 1963, Page 7

Rover-B.R.M. Details

VURTHER details have been x released on the gas turbine-powered sports car which the Rover Company, Ltd., and the Owen Organisation, makers of the B.R.M. racing car. have entered for the Le mans 24-hour race this year. The car, which is to be called the Rover-8.R.M., is based on the very successful B.R.M. Grand Prix chassis. This chassis is of tubular construction with independent suspension on all four wheels. Mounted at the rear of the car will be a 2S-150 Rover gas turbine unit, which is a development of the engine which is in the Rover gas turbine prototype car T 4.

This is a very compact unit only 2ft 6in long and weighing about 2001 b. including all ancillary equipment. There-

fore the engine and gear-box of the Rover-B.R.M. are considerably lighter than the conventional racing engine and gear-box unit. The car will race without a heat exchanger because the weight of the car with larger fuel tanks, necessary to compensate for the loss of the heat exchanger, is less than if a heat exchanger were fitted together with smaller tanks. It is not expected that more fuel stops will be necessary than for other competing cars. The car will run on kerosene. Normal 12-volt electrical equipment is fitted, and an alternator will be used to provide the extra lighting power necessary for this race. The light-weight gear-box made specially for the car by B.R.M. has only one forward and one reverse gear.

and the car .will have no clutch. The car is fitted with disc brakes.

This joint endeavour is being undertaken to provide a British contender for the special prize offered by the Automobile Club de I’Ouest for the first gas turbine car to complete the 24 hours at an average speed of not less than 150 k.p.h. The decision to attempt to achieve this objection was made in February this year.

It is strictly inaccurate to describe the Rover gas turbine as a “jet.” The difference is that with a jet engine, the hot gases act directly upon the atmosphere, producing jet thrust, whereas in this automotive gas turbine the energy is converted by a turbine to provide power to the driving wheels.