1995 Ford Cosworth RS Escort WRC Rally Car

Stuart Turner of Ford was the leading light in pushing through the Ford Escort Rally program in the nineties. Previously, the Sierra Cosworth had maintained a competitive presence in world rallying but a new genre of rally cars was emerging. The brief now called for a smaller, lighter car to challenge the rapidly emerging cars from Japan. Indeed, Turner had cited that nearly a third of all cars entered in a previous national rally were Japanese in order to encourage the Ford decision makers in Detroit to 'sign off' the Escort Cosworth rally program. They still took some robust persuading as the production model was only available in front wheel drive and the RS Escort was going to be far removed from the production item destined for the 'masses'. Worse still, production would have to be outsourced to Karmann, Germany. Two major considerations swayed Ford's decision to go ahead, firstly the new Escort was being labelled rather bland by the press and needed a 'halo/hero car' and secondly the drivetrain for the new rally car was the well proven, world beater system from the Sierra Cosworth. Turner's plan had been to produce a 'pizza' rally car; Sierra Cosworth base with an Escort body-shell topping. A prototype was entered in a somewhat obscure rally in Spain, it won, and Ford's Marketing machine quickly seized the opportunity with an advertising campaign that meant they could only continue wholesale with the program, spawning the mantra, 'Everything we do is driven by you'.

On its WRC debut 1993 Monte Carlo Rally, the RS Escorts of Miki Biasion and François Delecour led until the final stages. It was a success and provided Ford with ten WRC victories from 1993 - 97 for Miki Biasion, François Delecour, Franco Cunico, Tommi Mäkinen and Carlos Sainz.

Offered here is a unique WRC RS Escort that carried a Ford 'Works' registration number, L731 ONO. It is a full specification ex-works Group "A' shell, #117, and is the shell from Miki Biasions 1994 Monte Carlo entry. The shell and parts were purchased from Boreham by the previous owner with our vendor building it up to tarmac specification. Group "A' WRC RS Escorts are very rare, let alone those with 'Works' history...

This WRC Escort is faithful to the period specification and has been engineered recently by renowned competition car experts, BGMsport of Brackley. The specification to WRC Group A includes the 'Works' shell, Spooner dash and wiring harness, Stack dash system, water injection system, fresh zero miles engine, Owen spec turbo with just 200 miles since rebuild, and a Pete Dowty gearbox with just 150 miles since rebuild & clutch with just 150 miles since fitted.

Also fitted are Pete Dowty diffs with 200 miles since rebuild, 6.5" front, 7.5" rear plated, VC centre, a new AP 6-pot front tarmac front brake kit fitted just 200 miles, GpA rear brakes, bias pedal box, new Lifeline 360 electric fire extinguisher kit that was fitted 2 years ago, Bilstein suspension, fully rose jointed, mag rear arms, square rear beam, GpA front uprights, GpA anti roll bars & Sparco seats (not in date) with the driver seat being the original Biasion seat. Willans 6 point belts dated to 2015, Kevlar door interior panels, driver and co-driver false floors. ATL fuel cell expires March 2014, fully aero quipped throughout and fitted with OZ 17" wheels.

This is a unique opportunity to own an historic WRC car with works association at probably one sixth of its build cost in period. It is mechanically perfect and ready for competition or as an 'on the button' collector piece. L731 ONO is credit to the thoroughness and dedication of BGMsport and our vendor's demand for attention to detail.