FORD ESCORT MKII
RS1800
1981
This car competed in the 1981 World Rally Championship and was driven by Ari Vatanen with David Richards as co driver. The pair won the WRC title for Ford that year.
While the 29 year old Vatanen would continue to compete in the championship it would be his only world title. For David Richards, it was his last competitive season as a co driver, as he turned his attention to creating his own motorsport business, which would ultimately lead to the creation of Prodrive in 1984.
The rear-wheel drive car was from an era before four-wheel drive, turbo charged cars came to dominate rallying from the mid 1980s.
This particular chassis competed in three events in WRC in 1981: The Acropolis, the Thousand Lakes in Finland and San Remo, winning the first two.
FORD ESCORT MKII RS1800
Results
1981
Acropolis Rally, Greece
1 - 4 June
Vatanen/Richards 1ST
Rally Of The 1000 Lakes, Finland
28 - 30 August
Vatanen/Richards 1ST
Rallye Sanremo, Italy
5 - 10 October
Vatanen/Richards 7TH
Specification
Engine
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Cosworth Belt Driven Series A (BDA) engine
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1993cc DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder
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2 Dell’Orto carburettors
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Power 255 bhp @ 9,500rpm
Transmission
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Rear wheel drive
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Atlas rear axle with ZF limited slip differential
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Manual five-speed ZF gearbox
Suspension
McPherson coil/strut front, rigid axle rear with leaf springs
Rack and pinion steering
Brakes
Disc front and rear