Scanning through the entry checklist of the year’s 2009 Western Australian Targa West tarmac rally, I was happy to determine no less than 5 Mk1 Ford Escorts entered during the vintage Level of competition group. Having owned and competed in this famous marque, I can’t help but admire the tenacity and dedication in the house owners and motorists who continue on to arrange and race these magnificent cars.
Considering the fact that their launch in 1968, the Mk1 escort has constantly highlighted in Rally Level of competition around the world. For Exclusive escorts almost 7 decades right after It truly is launch, the MK1 Escort dominated the Worldwide rally scene, at last passing over the mantle to it’s equally dominant Mk2 successor.
Even today the Mk1 Escort is a popular option for young drivers coming into Motorsport. Several famed rally legends have built their start out within an Escort. The late Colin McRae campaigned escorts for a few years, little doubt affected by his Father, five moments British Winner Jimmy who can however be discovered campaigning Escorts inside the Historic competitions all-around Europe.
An additional particularly talented McRae in the shape of Alister will probably be competing Within this 12 months’s Targa West in a very Ralliart organized Mitsubishi Lancer EVO ten in the fashionable Level of competition group. Alister dominated very last yr’s Basic class within a Porsche 911, I’m predicting he’ll be exceptionally challenging to beat.
Possessing competed for the last two a long time With this celebration, I am going to welcome the chance to take a action back again and soak while in the spectacle from the spectator’s viewpoint. Though experiencing the function from the confines of a TVR powered Triumph TR8, I always experienced just one eye firmly set around the Mk1 Escort Mexico’s and RS2000’s from the levels & provider parks.
I’ll be viewing Alister’s functionality with the pointy end of the sphere with interest, but my coronary heart is going to be properly and genuinely fixed back again within the typical Competitors group, exactly where the backbone tingling throaty roar of twin weber adorned Mk1 Escorts in whole cry will definitely become a sight to behold.