Following the introduction of the MKIII Escort in 1980, Ford Motorsport began developing a rear-wheel-drive, turbocharged version of the vehicle that could also compete in Group B rallies, naming the new vehicle the Escort RS 1700T. A problematic development forced Ford to abandon the project in frustration in 1983, leaving them without a new vehicle to enter Group B. Not wanting to leave Group B or simply „write off” the costs of developing the failed 1700T, the managers decided to use the experience gained during the vehicle’s development to prepare a new purpose-built rally car. In addition, Ford executives insisted that the new vehicle be all-wheel drive, which they believe is necessary to properly compete with all-wheel drive models from Peugeot and Audi.
The new vehicle was uniquely designed, with a Ghia-designed plastic-fiberglass composite body, mid-engine and four-wheel drive. The cars were commissioned by Ford in collaboration with another company, Reliant, which is well known for producing fiberglass bodies. To help with weight distribution, designers mounted the transmission in the front half of the car, requiring the mid-mounted engine to drive the front wheels first and then the rear wheels, creating a complex drivetrain setup. The bodywork was designed by former Formula 1 designer Tony Southgate, with former Ford F1 engineer John Wheeler assisting in development.
Power came from a 1,803 cc, single-turbo Ford-Cosworth „BDT” engine producing 250 PS (186 kW) in road version and between 350 and 450 PS (261 and 336 kW) in racing trim; Options were available for road-going versions to increase output to over 300 PS (224 kW). Factory driver Kalle Grundel’s third place finish at the 1986 WRC Swedish Rally was the vehicle’s best ever result in a Group B rally event, although the model had limited success outside of the ultra-competitive Group B. However, just one event later, at Rally Portugal, a Ford RS200 suffered one of the most dramatic crashes in WRC history, killing three spectators and injuring 60 others. Another Ford RS200 driven by Swiss Formula 1 driver Marc Surer crashed into a tree at the 1986 Hessen Rally in Germany, instantly killing his co-driver and friend, Michel Wyder.
An accident at Rally Portugal set off a chain reaction, rendering the RS200 obsolete after just one full year of racing as the FIA, the governing body that governed WRC rallying at the time, abolished Group B after the 1986 season. For 1987, Ford planned to introduce an „Evolution” version of the RS200, which included the development of the BDT engine, later called the BDT-E, 2.137cc, developed by the British Brian Hart. Engine output figures vary quite a bit from source to source, depending on mechanical setup (eg power levels), with output ranging from 550 PS (558 PS; 410 kW) to 815 PS (826 PS; 608 kW), although the most typical output is 580 PS ( 588 HP; 433 kW) at 8,000 rpm and 542 Nm at 5,500 rpm at torque. The ban on Group B racing effectively forced the E2 into retirement, however, from August 1986 to October 1992, more than a dozen races were successfully run in the FIA Rallycross Drivers’ European Championship, and Norway’s Martin Schanche won the European Rallycross title in 1991 with a Ford RS200 E2 , which produced over 650 horsepower (485 kW). The acceleration figures of this model are appalling even by today’s standards. According to some data, a value close to 2 seconds was measured from zero to 100 km/h. Obviously, depending on the tire, temperature and road conditions.
In conclusion, the RS200 born of Cosworth’s engineering genius will remain an iconic memory in motorsport history.
The Aston Martin Valkyrie, inside which a 1,000-horsepower, 6.5-liter V12 Cosworth engine rumbles at a maximum speed of 11,000 rpm alongside the electric motor. Cosworth developed a V12 engine in both Gordon Murray’s T50 and T33. In addition, the V16 naturally aspirated engine developed by Cosworth in the new Bugatti is expected to produce around 1,000 horsepower, and with the addition of three electric motors, the total output can reach 1,800 horsepower. The 24.8 kWh battery in the car is expected to provide an electric range of 60 kilometers, and the car will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just around 2 seconds. According to the plans, Bugatti will produce only 250 copies of this special hypercar. (Written by: György Dési)