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A build unlike any other, this Rallycross-ready Escort has an amazing spec and a spectacular story to go with it, as we find out how it all began some six years ago.
Rallycross Mk2 Escort Cosworth-powered, Zakspeed-arched monster is a tribute to Martin Schanche.
Ever wondered what professionals in the motorsport industry dream about building in their spare time? Well the answer for some is a Mk2 Escort Rallycross car. But this project came about by chance and lots of favours were called in to make it what it is, as we discovered.
“My buddy Mick and I were in delayed for a flight to go and mechanic for Dermot Carnegie at the Mondello Park Irish Rallycross series,” says Scott. “We got looking on eBay and found a Mk2 RS2000 in Germany. It looked terrible but it was only £1000. We had been drinking and we often take a cheeky bid at such times, not expecting a result. We worked all weekend, took the win in the final and then Mick found out we had won the car!”
As it turned out, when they got there the car wasn’t good enough to even secure on a trailer, but the German seller did offer Scott and Mick another X-Pack Escort in much better condition, along with half their money back. They took the offer up and it was trailered home, but after initially selling the car, it passed through a few hands before it ended up back with Scott some years later. It then came to be the Martin Schanche Mk2 Escort replica you see here, but that was no coincidence.
“I had watched Martin’s car on TV as a teenager and even had a toy model,” explains Scott. “If I was going to be involved, it had to be just like that car. Luckily, four other members of the Tuesday Night Club (see April 2015 issue) I’m part of share my dream, so the five of us; Mick, Charlie, Ruby and Jack are co-owners and are determined to recreate the gem from 1984.”
How did the project begin? I suggested to theTuesday Night Club that we build a car we could all be involved with. I had been approached by the organisers of Retro Rallycross about building a car to be used by celebrity drivers. In return, we would get free entry to UK rounds, which would allow all of us to have a race.
And that became the idea? It seemed too good to miss and achievable if I used all my motorsport contacts to help. I had wanted for a very long time to build that Martin Schanche Mk2 Escort replica. The big boot spoiler, turbo engine and massive arches; what a weapon!
What is powering it? My favourite engine is theYB and I am lucky to know Will Jones, who sponsored us with an alloy block, head, sump and cam cover. The internals are a short-stroke Arrows crank, donated by Dermot Carnegie, while Auto Verdi gave us a cost deal on the custom rods and Omega gave us the billet pistons.
What’s the full spec of it? It’s a 92 mm bore by 74 mm stroke.The alloy block is through-studded with ductile liners, while the head is a revised chambered Rallycross-spec with big valves and mild Rallycross-spec cams, to suit the smaller capacity.
And for boost? The BorgWarner SX400 turbo was a gift from AETTurbos and the inlet manifold, which I am still working on, is from a Manta 400Turbo engine that was donated by Aquamist Water injection.The package should make around 500 bhp.
What about the electronics? Wastegates and control are from Turbosmart, who also donated the parts. The ECU is a Pectel SQ6, which came at cost price from GTEC Electronics. We have been very lucky, but I still have to tap up my boss Julian Godfrey to dyno it!
And the running gear? TTV Racing donated a clutch and flywheel for the 2WD MT75 with a SGS big-tooth kit, again donated.The axle is a 48 inch fully-floating Atlas with a plated LSD and uprated halfshafts, assembled by me.The front suspension is a Rix Engineering modular kit, but with a BMW steering rack and fabricated crossmember.
The shell looks great; what was involved in restoring it? We tore the car to pieces, and loads of welding and repairing took place. X Sport Racing gave us the bodykit, which comes in two pieces.That meant cutting off the complete front and rear of the car, back to a boot floor and inner wings.
Are there any special tweaks to help it? If you look closely, you will see the axle and front suspension have been moved forward to aid the launch. With the body built, we took the car to Pete Maylum, who builds loads of Escorts and knows Rallycross Mk2s better than anyone.
What fab work was done? Pete did the conversion for free, including the channels to feed the rear-mounted radiator and all the five-link work, as well as the rollcage. I made the intercooler mounts and frameworks to support stone guards and in the rear, the fuel tank and battery
“I’D WANTED TO BUILD A MARTIN SCHANCHE MK2 REPLICA FOR A VERY LONG TIME WHAT A WEAPON!”
And what came after that? Next was to chat up the paint shop to make it all nice and shiny. S&G Coachworks did a grand job and made my massive gearbox tunnel look like it belonged, rather than just appeared.
What’s the story with the boot spoiler?
So what’s left to do now? The wiring, dashboard, front brakes, which are from a F1 car and a trip to Spec R for new radiators and an intercooler.The suspension and steering need work, but most is in place, like the Rieger dampers up front and the Ohlins in the rear, which came from Liam Doran, who I hope will drive it at some stage.
Is there anyone you would like to thank? Oh yes — Smith & Jones, Maylum Race Fabrications,TTV, Omega, X Sport Racing, Liam Doran, GTEC Electronics, S&G Coachworks, Jellyfish Designs and Julian Godfrey Engineering.
The theme of this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show 2021, with Discovery, has been revealed as ‘The Journey Continues…’ Each year, the organisers challenge the exhibiting clubs and traders to create displays around a suggested theme that they can interpret in their own way. The show also creates feature displays and entertaining stage segments that are in keeping with the theme.
“We wanted the 2021 show theme to reflect where we all are right now — and that’s continuing our journey,” reckons Show Director, Lee Masters. “Our lives and hobbies were somewhat put on hold due to covid but now, as the government roadmap unfolds, we can get back on the road, in every sense. But at a basic level, we can get our classics out and get back on the road, be it exploring the amazing routes around the UK or beyond.”
The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, is scheduled to be held at Birmingham’s NEC from Friday to Sunday, November 12-14. Tickets are now on sale. Check the website: