Ford Escort RS 1800 MK 2


Ford Escort RS 1800 MK 2
Group: 4


The Mk2 Escort was the successor of the MK1 but had a 1800cc engine insted of the 1600 and could be bored up to 2 litres giving an easy 240bhp. From 1975 until 1981 the MK2 was always a winning car wherever it started, one of the main reasons for it was its foregiving drivabilitiy. The pilots could squeeze everything out of the car and get away with it, so they did. The MK2 won the 1979 Manufacturers World Titel and with Ari Vatenen the 1981 the Drivers World Championship.
Specifications
4-cylinder engine, in-line,
1993ccm, detuned to 270 bhp,
fuel injected front engine and rear-wheel-drive,
5-speed ZF gearbox,
weight: 900 kg
Christophe Jacob,
Belgium

1983 Belgium Championship
In 1979 Ford built tarmac versions of the MK2 Escort with bigger wheel arches, different suspension and fuel injection. One of these cars passed onto the Belgium Championship in 1983 and scored second place there driven by Robert Droogmanns.


Ford Escort RS 1800 MK 2
Group: 4
Specifications
4-cylinder engine, in-line,
1993ccm, detuned to 200 bhp,
front engine and rear-wheel-drive,
5-speed ZF gearbox,
weight: 1050 kg

Ursula Kleinmanns,
Germany
After the Safari in 1977 STW203R stayed in Kenya and was locally to KPU002. It was sold to Basil Criticos who drove it on the 1983 Acropolis endeing with a roll. Ursula Kleinmanns found the car in Kenya in 1992 on her yearly visit to the Safari Rally and brought it back to Europe. It was restored to its orginal condition including the detuned BDA engine with small valves for 90 octane fuel and all the relevant Safari bits and pieces.

1977 Safari Rally
In 1977 Ford brought four specially prepared Mk2 Escorts to the Safari, which was one of the toughest and wettest of all times. The teams drove the 3,750 miles in two legs non-stop from Thursday until Saturday morning and then from Saturday night until noon on Monday. Björn Waldegaard drove one of the Escorts to outright victory while Vic Preston was second overall for a long time until the clutch broke.


Ford Escort RS 1800 MK 2
Group: 4
Specifications
4-cylinder engine, in-line,
1993ccm, detuned to 240 bhp,
front engine and rear-wheel-drive,
5-speed ZF gearbox,
weight: 1000 kg
Thomas Schöfer,
Germany

1978 Schwedish Rally
For the 1978 season Ford went back to their old system, just selecting a few events and not challenging main rival Fiat for the crown. But the Swedish Rally was a main target and they sent three Escorts. Waldegard finished first, second place for Mikkola and fifth for Vatanen, who as usual lost time with an off.


Ford Escort RS 1800 MK 2
Group: 4
Specifications
4-cylinder engine, in-line,
1993ccm, detuned to 240 bhp,
front engine and rear-wheel-drive,
5-speed ZF gearbox,
weight: 1000 kg

Thomas Schulz,
Germany
This Escort was built by MCD Rally in England and made its way to France in the late 70s. There it was used in rallies and later hillclimbs. Late in 2001 it came to Germany in terrible state and was completely rebuilt using a new bodyshell by Gartrac.

1981 WRC season
When Ford retired the Escort MK2 officially at the end of 1979 the David Sutton team took over and continued rallying the Escorts still in 1980 and 1981. These were the Rothmans-Escorts and their star driver Ari Vatanen managed about as many overall victories as destroyed bodyshells in that period. Ari was Driver´s World Rally Champion in 1981.