The Deadly Ford That Helped End Group B Rally

Summary

The Ford RS200, born in the perilous Group B rally era of the 1980s, was Ford's ambitious response to the new WRC regulations. Designed with a mid-engine and front gearbox, the RS200 was a lightweight, all-wheel-drive machine powered by a 1.8L turbocharged Cosworth engine. Despite initial struggles and a tragic accident in Portugal, the RS200 persevered in rallycross and even competed in the IMSA GTO class with a 750-horsepower engine. The video recounts the RS200's story, from its inception to its varied racing career.

Takeaways

• 🏎️ The Group B rally regulations, introduced in 1982, were known for creating some of the fastest and most powerful off-road racing cars.
• ⚠️ Group B is considered one of the most dangerous eras in rally history due to the high speeds and powerful machines involved.
• 🚗 The Ford RS200 was an iconic car developed by Ford to compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC) under the new Group B regulations.
• 🔧 Initially, Ford considered a rally version of the Escort Mk3, but it was scrapped in favor of a completely new design to better fit the Group B requirements.
• 🌐 The new Ford car had to meet criteria such as all-wheel drive and lightness, leading to the use of glass fibre reinforced plastic for the body.
• 🔄 The RS200 featured an innovative design with a mid-mounted engine and a front-located gearbox, creating unique powertrain layout challenges.
• 🏁 The car was developed with a 1.8L turbocharged Cosworth engine, producing between 250 horsepower for road cars and up to 450 horsepower for racing versions.
• 📅 Delays in development meant that Ford started the 1986 season with a less competitive version of the RS200, which was heavier and slower than intended.
• 🥉 The RS200 achieved a podium finish in Sweden, marking its greatest achievement in Group B racing.
• 💥 Tragic accidents, including a fatal incident involving an RS200 in Portugal, highlighted the dangers of Group B and contributed to its eventual cancellation.
• 🚫 Following further fatalities, Group B was discontinued, and the proposed Group S, which Ford was developing for, was also cancelled.
• 🔄 Post-Group B, the RS200 found a new life in rallycross and one unique road car version was adapted to compete in the IMSA GTO class with a 750 horsepower engine.
• 🛠 Despite the potential, the IMSA GTO RS200 faced numerous challenges including heat stroke issues and unreliability, leading to a lack of success over three racing seasons.

Q & A

What was the significance of the Group B rally regulations introduced in 1982?

The Group B rally regulations, introduced in 1982, marked a golden era for rallying, allowing for more engineering freedom and creating some of the fastest and most powerful off-road machines ever to run on 4 wheels.

Why did Ford initially consider developing a rally version of the Escort Mk3?

Ford initially considered developing a rally version of the Escort Mk3 because they wanted the Escort name to carry Ford's rallying legacy forward for the sake of its off-road ancestors.

What were the main criteria for Ford's new rally car to compete in the WRC?

The main criteria for Ford's new rally car were that it had to be all wheel drive to compete against similar machines from Audi and Peugeot, and it had to be light, effectively being a marginally homologated prototype.

Why did Ford choose to make the new car out of glass fibre reinforced plastic?

Ford chose to make the new car out of glass fibre reinforced plastic to achieve the required lightness and because they needed to turn things around fast, outsourcing the production of the body to Reliant, a company experienced in fibre glass production.

Who was brought in to design the chassis for the RS200, and what complication did the engineers insist on?

Legendary race car designer Tony Southgate was brought in to design the chassis for the RS200. The complication was that the engineers insisted on having the engine in the middle of the car and the gearbox at the front, complicating the power transmission layout.

What was the power output of the 1.8L turbocharged Cosworth engine in the homologation road cars and the racing version of the RS200?

The 1.8L turbocharged Cosworth engine in the homologation road cars of the RS200 produced 250 horsepower, while the racing version produced between 350 and 450 horsepower depending on the setup.

Why was the RS200's power to weight ratio a concern for Ford in the WRC?

The RS200's power to weight ratio was a concern because it trailed many of its competitors, and the engine was very slow to react at low RPM, making the WRC competition challenging for Ford.

What was the first significant achievement of the RS200 in Group B racing?

The first significant achievement of the RS200 in Group B racing was a podium finish in the second race of the 1986 season in Sweden.

What tragic event during the Portuguese Rally led to the end of Group B racing in the WRC?

During the Portuguese Rally, an RS200 left the track after the driver lost control, colliding with a group of spectators, resulting in 3 immediate deaths and one additional death in the hospital, which led to the end of Group B racing in the WRC.

What was the fate of the RS200 after the cancellation of Group B and the proposed Group S?

After the cancellation of Group B and the proposed Group S, RS200s continued in rallycross and one particular road car was re-worked to compete in the IMSA GTO class in the late 1980s with a 750 horsepower 2L Cosworth engine.

What were the challenges faced by Jeff Elghanayan when racing the RS200 in the IMSA GTO class?

Jeff Elghanayan faced challenges such as heat stroke during a race in Texas, which impaired his ability to stop the car in the pit lane, leading to a crash. The car was rebuilt multiple times but remained unreliable, leading to its retirement after 1991.