Roush XR4Ti race history
Most Merkur enthusiasts are aware of the Roush XR4Ti's of Trans-Am and IMSA fame. We all know there was more than 1 as we've seen in some action photos from the time. We know they won more than a few races too!
Likely you know they weren't really Merkur's at all but are Roush built full-tube-chassis race cars in XR4Ti styled fiberglass bodies. About the only production parts used were the cam cover, roof, and tail lights. For all of us XR4Ti and Scorpio enthusiasts they still represented the Merkur marque.
It appears there were at least 4 chassis in XR4Ti bodies at one time. Two were normally in Mac Tools colors and another 2 ran under various sponsors (Motorcraft, Strohs, Budget, Secret, and others). Legend has it that the cars were so unbeatable with the 2500cc 4 cyl turbocharged motors that the rules were re-written to get rid of them. Eventually most of the chassis were converted to V8 motors and alternate bodies. The Roush museum in Livonia, MI, has what is believed to be the single remaining XR4Ti body/chassis still with the turbo-4 motor in it.
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Actually the museum has a second (new version) XR4Ti tube chassis (without body) developed to run the '90 season but it was never put into service as L-M chose to switch to Cougars. It also has a turbo-4 motor in it.
Here's my own summary, compiled from various sources, of the 1984-1990 Lincoln-Mercury Roush dynasty. Unfortunately for us Merkur enthusiasts the XR4Ti's had just a brief history in this country's top levels of racing. If anyone wants to make corrections or has further info please let me know.
Trans-Am highlights:
1984 and 1985: Lincoln-Mercury wins the 1984 and '85 Trans-Am championships with Roush Racing V8 Capri's.
1986: The 2500cc 4 cyl. turbocharged Roush XR4Ti's were phased in. Lincoln-Mercury-Merkur sweeps the podium at the season finale in St. Petersburg to steal the Trans-Am Manufacturers’ Championship from Chevrolet:
1st: Pete Halsmer Motorcraft/Mac Tools Merkur XR4Ti
2nd: Klaus Ludwig Budget Rent-a-Car Merkur XR4Ti
3rd: Scott Pruett Motorcraft/Mac Tools Capri
4th: Chris Kneifel Motorcraft/Mac Tools Merkur XR4Ti
5th: Mike Miller Budget Rent-a-Car Capri
1987: The Roush XR4Ti's dominate Trans-Am winning 11 of the seasons 12 races. Pete Halsmer, driving a Merkur XR4Ti, delivers Roush Racing its 32nd victory, surpassing the 31-win mark set by Penske Racing. Scott Pruett driving a Mac Tools Merkur XR4Ti for Roush Racing wins at Memphis to clinch Lincoln-Mercury's record fourth consecutive Manufacturers' Championship. Pruett goes on to win his first drivers' title.
IMSA highlights:
1988: Roush Racing Merkur XR4Ti's win the IMSA GTO Manufacturers Championship for Lincoln-Mercury-Merkur. Scott Pruett wins the IMSA GTO Drivers Championship. (Interesting fact that for the season opener Daytona 24hr race Roush entered XR4Ti bodied chassis with both the 4cyl turbo motor and a V8 to increase the chance of a GTO class win. An XR4Ti indeed came in 1st in GTO. I've heard it was the V8 car. The remainder of the season was run with the 4cyl turbos.)
1989: Lincoln-Mercury Roush Racing V8 Cougar XR-7's win the IMSA GTO Manufacturers Championship. Pete Halsmer wins the IMSA GTO Drivers Championship.
1990: Lincoln-Mercury Roush Racing V8 Cougar XR-7's win the IMSA GTO Manufacturers Championship. Dorsey Schroeder wins the IMSA GTO Drivers Championship.
1985 XR4Ti-IMSA
Contents Copyright 2005, 2006, 2007, Merkur Club of America, Inc.
Merkur, XR4ti, Scorpio, and the Merkur logo are the trademarks and property of Ford Motor Co.
This page was last updated: Sunday, November 26, 2006 11:07 PM