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From Code to Chassis: The Rise of Roger Nathan

  • Joel Bonnah
  • Jul 15
  • 2 min read

In the whirlwind of 1960s British motorsport, Roger Nathan carved a name as both a competitive driver and ingenious tuner. Born in 1943, Nathan's first notable event came in March 1961 at Brands Hatch, rallying an Austin Healey 3000 to a strong second place. By 1963, at just 20, he'd become the youngest winner of the National Autosport Championship behind the wheel of a Lotus Elite.


The Hillman Imp Awakening

Nathan's talent drew him to the humble Hillman Imp. In 1965, his tuning shop crafted a twin-cam Imp engine-complete with Tecalemit-Jackson fuel injection-that produced an impressive 125 bhp from a 998 cc block. He raced this Imp-nicknamed "Impudence II"-and it dominated small-capacity categories.

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Brands Hatch: Peter England Trophy, 1966

On 16 July 1966, at Brands Hatch's Peter England Trophy, Nathan entered the fray with car #67 in a fiercely contested 32-entry field. Despite qualifying 25th, he stormed through to 18th overall and clinched 3rd in Class A, with a best lap of 38:30.8 across 19 laps.


Birth of the Costin-Nathan GT (1966-1967)

Frank Costin-the aviation-trained aerodynamicist-joined forces with Nathan to create the Costin-Nathan GT. This racer featured a plywood/steel chassis and a mid-mounted 998 cc Imp engine, producing over 100 hp while weighing just 700 lb. The car debuted in 1966, winning five of six races and smashing five class lap records.


Testing the GT: Track Insights

Track tests revealed the Stage-4 'plus' Imp engine produced around 102 bhp at up to 9,000 rpm. The car's nimble chassis, responsive steering, and firm brakes made it a challenging yet thrilling drive.

The downdraught carburation on the Nathan G.T. The engine is canted over in the opposite direction to standard.
The downdraught carburation on the Nathan G.T. The engine is canted over in the opposite direction to standard.

Championship Glory: 1968-1969

In 1968, Nathan won both the Motoring News GT and Total National GT championships with his Nathan GT, ending the year with 14 lap records. In 1969, his new Astra Climax won major races, including third at the Nurburgring 1,000 km and second at the GP de Paris.

Photo by Robert B. in France, sent in by 'sterling49' to forums.autosport.com. According to sterling49 "all of Robert's photos are from 1964, maybe a few from 1965". Even as early as 1964, Nathan Imps carried a BP sticker on the front wing, as seen on one of the photos in his autobiography. Are these orange coloured alloys (IIRC) - these look as if they could be coloured, rather than 'silver'. Nathan Imps always featured orange.
Photo by Robert B. in France, sent in by 'sterling49' to forums.autosport.com. According to sterling49 "all of Robert's photos are from 1964, maybe a few from 1965". Even as early as 1964, Nathan Imps carried a BP sticker on the front wing, as seen on one of the photos in his autobiography. Are these orange coloured alloys (IIRC) - these look as if they could be coloured, rather than 'silver'. Nathan Imps always featured orange.

The Legacy of Nathan & Costin

By 1970, the Astra RNRII continued breaking records, solidifying Nathan's status as a prolific British racer and innovator. His work fused craftsmanship, aerodynamics, and lightweight engineering into racing history.


Where to Learn More: 'An Adventurous Life: The Costin-Nathan Story' by Roger Nathan & Stephanie Gutzwille


 
 
 

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