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.

Outlines

00:00

🏎️ The Golden Era of Group B and the Ford RS200

The script opens with a tribute to the Group B rally regulations of 1982, which marked a golden era for rally racing by allowing for the creation of powerful and fast off-road vehicles. It introduces the Ford RS200 as a product of this era, born from Ford's ambition to enter the World Rally Championship (WRC) under the new regulations. Initially, Ford considered modifying the Escort Mk3, but due to concerns about its competitiveness and image, they decided to build a completely new car. The new car was to be all-wheel drive, lightweight, and made from fiberglass, with production outsourced to Reliant. Tony Southgate was brought in to design the chassis, and the car featured a mid-mounted engine and a unique powertrain layout. The RS200 was powered by a 1.8L turbocharged Cosworth engine, but faced challenges due to its power-to-weight ratio and engine response at low RPMs.

05:04

🔥 The Tragic End of Group B and the RS200's Post-Rally Career

This paragraph delves into the darker side of Group B, highlighting the tragic accident in Portugal that led to the death of spectators and the subsequent cancellation of Group B racing in the WRC. The script also recounts the fatal accident of Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto at the Tour de Corse, which sealed the fate of Group B. Ford had been developing a more powerful version of the RS200 for the proposed Group S, but this was never realized. The RS200, however, continued to compete in rallycross and, in a unique twist, one road car was adapted to race in the IMSA GTO class with a 750 horsepower engine. Despite this, the car faced numerous issues, including a heat stroke-induced crash and unreliability, leading to its retirement after 1991. The script ends by referencing Audi's better-prepared entry into IMSA and invites viewers to watch another video about it.

Keywords

💡Group B rally regulations

Group B rally regulations were a set of rules introduced in 1982 for rallying, known for allowing the creation of some of the fastest and most powerful off-road racing cars. These regulations played a significant role in the development of rally cars like the Ford RS200. The script describes Group B as a 'golden era for rallying' and as 'one of the most dangerous eras in its history,' highlighting the high-performance nature and the associated risks of the vehicles involved.

💡Ford RS200

The Ford RS200 is the central subject of the video, an iconic rally car developed by Ford to compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC) under the Group B regulations. The script tells the story of its development, its unique features such as the mid-mounted engine and the front gearbox, and its racing history, including its participation in rallycross and the IMSA GTO class.

💡WRC (World Rally Championship)

The World Rally Championship is the premier rally competition in which manufacturers and drivers compete using rally cars. In the script, it is mentioned that Ford was preparing an entry into the WRC with the new Group B regulations, emphasizing the championship's importance in the development and testing of high-performance rally cars like the Ford RS200.

💡Group C

Group C refers to another set of racing regulations that existed during the same period as Group B but was focused on the World Sportscar Championship. The script mentions Group C to contrast it with Group B, indicating that while Group C was the top class for the World Sportscar Championship, Group B was the dominant class for off-road racing.

💡Escort RS 1700T

The Escort RS 1700T was an initial development by Ford, which was intended to be a rally version of the Escort Mk3. The script describes it as being powered by a 1.8L Cosworth inline 4 engine capable of producing around 300 horsepower. However, it was eventually scrapped due to concerns about its competitiveness in the new Group B class.

💡All wheel drive

All wheel drive is a transmission system that provides power to all four wheels of a vehicle, improving traction and stability, especially in off-road racing conditions. The script mentions that Ford's criteria for the new rally car included all wheel drive, recognizing its importance for competing against other all wheel drive machines from Audi and Peugeot.

💡Fibreglass

Fibreglass, or glass fibre reinforced plastic, is a lightweight material used in the construction of the Ford RS200's body. The script explains that Ford chose this material to achieve the necessary lightness for the car, which was a critical factor in its performance as a rally car.

💡Tony Southgate

Tony Southgate is a legendary race car designer who was brought in by Ford to design the chassis for the RS200. His task was complicated by the unique layout of the car, with the engine in the middle and the gearbox at the front, as mentioned in the script.

💡Cosworth

Cosworth is a renowned engine and powertrain systems company that developed the 1.8L turbocharged inline 4 engine for the Ford RS200. The script describes this engine as being capable of producing between 250 horsepower in the homologation road cars and up to 450 horsepower in the racing version, depending on the setup.

💡IMSA GTO

The IMSA GTO class refers to a racing category within the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) that the Ford RS200 was re-worked to compete in during the late 1980s. The script recounts the story of one RS200 road car that was powered by a 750 horsepower 2L Cosworth engine for its inaugural season in 1989.

💡Rallycross

Rallycross is a form of motor racing that combines elements of rally and circuit racing, taking place on mixed surfaces. The script mentions that RS200s found a new life in rallycross after the demise of Group B, indicating the car's continued relevance and success in this motorsport discipline.

Highlights

Group B rally regulations, introduced in 1982, are considered a golden era for rallying, leading to the creation of some of the fastest and most powerful off-road machines.

Group B was a dangerous era in rally history, with the Ford RS200 being one of the iconic monsters born from this period.

Ford prepared for the upcoming WRC with the announcement of Group B regulations, aiming for more engineering freedom and entertaining competition.

Ford initially developed a rally version of the Escort Mk3, the Escort RS 1700T, but later scrapped it due to concerns about its performance and image.

The decision was made to build a brand-new car for the WRC, with the criteria of being all-wheel drive and lightweight.

The new car's body was made of glass fibre reinforced plastic, with production outsourced to Reliant, known for their expertise in fibre glass production.

Tony Southgate was brought in to design the RS200's chassis, facing the challenge of a mid-mounted engine and front gearbox layout.

The RS200's body was designed by Ghia, incorporating elements found in Ford's parts bins to create a unique look.

The 1.8L turbocharged Cosworth engine from the Escort 1700T was used in the RS200, providing different power outputs for homologation road cars and racing versions.

Despite its power, the RS200 had a slower power-to-weight ratio compared to competitors and a slow-reacting engine at low RPM.

The RS200 showed promise with a podium finish in Sweden during the 1986 season, marking its greatest achievement in Group B.

A tragic accident during the Portuguese Rally led to the death of spectators and highlighted the dangers of Group B racing.

The Tour de Corse saw the fatal crash of Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto, leading to the cancellation of Group B and the proposed Group S.

Ford had been developing a Group S version of the RS200, but it is believed that no prototype was built before the class was cancelled.

RS200s continued to participate in rallycross and one road car was re-worked to compete in the IMSA GTO class with a 750 horsepower engine.

The IMSA GTO RS200 faced challenges, including a heat stroke incident that led to a crash during its first event in Texas.

The RS200's racing career in IMSA GTO was marked by unreliability and poor repair work, leading to its retirement after 1991.

Audi's better preparation for IMSA in 1989 is contrasted with the RS200's struggles, as mentioned in a related video.

Transcripts

Introduced in 1982, the Group B rally regulations  are often heralded as a golden era for rallying.  

Giving rise to some of the fastest and  most powerful off-road machines ever to  

run on 4 wheels. But rally is a dangerous  sport, and there is no denying that Group  

B was one of the most dangerous eras in its  history. Today we’re talking about one of  

the many iconic monsters birthed to take on the  challenge; this is the story of the Ford RS200.

In the early 1980s Ford was preparing an entry  into the upcoming WRC. It had been announced  

that a new set of regulations would be  introduced in 1982, designated Group B,  

created to allow for more engineering freedom,  and more entertaining competition. Group B was  

a relatively broad class, and cars built for  it were permitted to race in numerous events,  

including the World Sportscar Championship.  WSC already had its top class though,  

Group C had taken care of that, but on  the dirt, Group B would be the new king.

Initially Ford had been developing a rallyfied  version of the Escort Mk3. They were keen for  

the Escort name to carry Ford’s rallying mantle  forward for the sake of its off-road ancestors.  

The car would be called the Escort RS 1700T.  Powered by a 1.8L Cosworth inline 4 capable of  

producing around 300 horsepower, and only built  with rear wheel drive, higher ups at Ford were  

worried the Escort wouldn’t have any teeth in  the new class. Then there was the optics of it,  

Ford were trying to present themselves  as a high-tech car company of the future,  

and entering another front engine, rear drive  Escort into the WRC just wasn’t gonna cut it.

The Escort RS 1700T was scrapped, but the  appetite for racing was still strong within Ford’s  

management, and so the call was made to go nuts  with it. They were going to build a brand-new car.

If Ford were going to build a brand-new car to  race in the WRC, they wanted to be damn sure  

it was worth the time, effort, and cash. Criteria  number one was that it had to be all wheel drive.  

They knew they would be competing against all  wheel drive machines from Audi and Peugeot. Next  

on the checklist was lightness. This new car would  effectively be a marginally homologated prototype,  

and so lightness was a given. They chose to make  the car out of glass fibre reinforced plastic,  

or just fibre glass if you’re busy, and to turn  things around fast they outsourced the production  

of the body to a company already well-versed  in fibre glass production – Reliant. Yes,  

that Reliant. The RS200, as this new rally car  would be known, was being developed in England,  

and I guess if Reliant had one thing  going for it its that it was … close by.

Ford brought in legendary race car designer Tony  Southgate to design the chassis for the RS200,  

a task made a bit complicated by the  fact the engineers insisted that the  

engine should be in the middle of the  car, and the gearbox at the front,  

meaning power had to be sent from the  mid-mounted engine, tucked behind the cockpit,  

all the way to the front of the car, where  the gearbox was, and then the rear wheels’  

share had to then traverse the full  length of the car the opposite way. 

The body was designed by Ghia, and Ford sprinkled  in the characterful pnash in the form of whatever  

they could find in the parts bins, and  voila. All they needed now was a powerplant.

The 1.8L turbocharged Cosworth 4-pot developed for  the Escort 1700T was dropped into the little car,  

giving the 200 homologation road cars  250 horsepower, and the full fat racing  

version between 350 and 450 horsepower  depending on the setup. Despite this,  

the power to weight ratio of the RS200 trailed  many of its competitors, and in combination with  

an engine that was very slow to react at low  RPM, it was clear the WRC wasn’t going to be  

easy for Ford.   

If you’re enjoying the video so far, tap the  like button, it makes a big difference, thanks!

Delays made things much harder. It was already  1986, and the company had yet to race the  

car in real anger. Worse yet, they hadn’t yet  homologated the superior EVO version of the car,  

meaning the car they started the 1986  season with was in in effect a modified  

production unit – much heavier and slower  than the car Ford had hoped to have run.

The second race of the season in Sweden was  the first point at which the plucky little  

car showed any real promise, with the RS200  managing a podium finish. This however would  

prove to be the car’s greatest achievement in  Group B, and celebrations were short lived.  

The very next event was the Portuguese Rally,  which saw a turning point for the entire class.

An RS200 left the track after the driver lost  control, colliding with a group of spectators.  

3 people died at the scene, with another  succumbing to their injuries in hospital later on.

The tragic loss of life in Portugal had  illuminated the writing on the wall for  

the Group B racing class, at least  insofar as the WRC was concerned,  

however one final blow would seal its fate.

The Tour de Corse is a road rally that takes  place on the island of Corsica. In 1986 it  

was where Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto  perished after their Lancia Delta S4 careened  

into a ravine and exploded. Group B died with  them, as FISA announced later the same day that  

Group B would not be continuing in 1987, and the  proposed Group S replacement class was canned.

Ford had been developing a car for Group S, an  even more monstrous iteration of the RS200, though  

its not thought that any prototype of this car  had been built before the annulment of the class.

However, RS200s lived on, taking on  rallycross years after the death of Group B,  

seeing some success, but most fascinating of  all was the fate of one lucky RS200 road car,  

that was re-worked to compete in the IMSA  GTO class in the late 1980s. It was powered  

by a ridiculous 750 horsepower 2L Cosworth  engine, making it one of the most powerful  

cars on the grid for its inaugural season in  1989. But all was not well. Jeff Elghanayan,  

the mad man responsible for entering a  failed rally car into the IMSA GTO class,  

was racing his creation in first event in Texas.  Texas can get hot, and on that day, it was very  

hot indeed. So hot in fact that, impaired by heat  stroke, Elghanayan drove the car straight through  

the pit lane, without stopping, and upon exiting  the other side promptly continued straight into  

the concrete barriers, wrecking the car. The car was re-built for 1990, but proven  

un-reliable, and was subsequently re-built  again for 1991. The impact of compounding  

mediocre repair work left the car in a  sorry state, and it was retired after 1991,  

after having achieved impressively little  during any of the 3 years it raced.

Audi were a bit better prepared for IMSA  in 1989, you can watch my video about  

their insane 90 Quattro IMSA GTO here. Thanks  for watching, and until next time, goodbye.