Morgan launches Plus Four racer

13th July 2021

Bob Murray

Retro-cool, high-tech and now back on track as well – Morgan is about to field two new “works” racers. They may look as traditional as ever but these are the first motorsport variants from Malvern to use the new “wide body” bonded-aluminium CX platform on which the latest four-wheeled Morgans are based.

The new duo are both Plus Four models and are intended for club-level sprint and endurance racing. While the first two cars will be used by the factory, driven by pro drivers and forming part of Morgan’s model development programme, customer race cars will be built to order.

In an echo of previous times and in keeping with the clubsport ethos, they are closely based on the production Plus Four and retain their road-legal status. In 1962 Morgan won its class at Le Mans with a car that was driven back to Worcestershire after the 24-hour race.

The new Plus Four may not be about to tackle Le Mans but Morgan chief executive Steve Morris says they are in keeping with the firm’s long tradition of motorsport. “A century ago, Morgan’s three-wheelers became famous for their exploits in trials, hill climbing and endurance racing, and this competitive spirit is alive and well here at our Pickersleigh Road factory to this day,” he tells us.

The CX platform – only the fourth all-new platform in the company’s 111 year history –brings advantages in lighter weight (the alloy platform weighs in at just 97kg), double the rigidity of the old platform and increased cabin room. There is bespoke double wishbone suspension and a BMW powertrain; in standard form, the Plus Four’s single-turbo 2.0-litre, four-cylinder develops 258PS (192kW) and can sprint from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds. It can be ordered with either a manual or auto gearbox.

There’s no performance data for the competition models as yet but track focus should not be in short supply: the cars have been developed in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton School of Engineering and the university’s racing team.

As well as getting two ready-to-go racers, Morgan sees the collaboration with the uni as a way preparing students for a career in motorsport or automotive engineering. Members of the race team will support the cars at events, including the Morgan Challenge.