Most individuals in all probability don’t know that Ford has been round in rally racing virtually so long as it has in some other format of motorsport. The Ford Escort represented the American automaker’s first actual foray into the off-roading panorama, and arguably its most profitable too. Starting with the Ford Escort RS1600, the automotive ultimately developed into the RS1800 and loved a wholesome spell of dominance in competitors all through the Nineteen Seventies.
This began after Hannu Mikkola was topped champion of the World Cup of Rally in 1970 and garnered sufficient momentum for him to turn out to be the primary international/European driver to win the East African Safari Rally in 1972. The RS1800s would proceed to seal plenty of title-winning runs late into the Nineteen Seventies, with an expanded ensemble which additionally included drivers Ari Vatanen and Björn Waldegård.
The Ford Escort RS1800 got here with a naturally aspirated 1.8L Cosworth BDE engine, a five-speed ZF gearbox and five-link suspension system. In comparison with the road-going model, the chassis was closely strengthened and featured wider wheel arch extensions which differentiated it most simply from the common automotive. 4 massive spotlights had been additionally fitted for night time levels. Whereas not overly outstanding on paper, even for its time, the automotive’s undisputable success was an necessary basis in Ford’s tenure in rally motorsport.
Picture Supply: Bonhams Automobiles
