BRITISH RALLYING
Rallycross competitor Mike Manning has branched out into hillclimbing this season with his home-brewed, and very potent, four-wheel-drive Mk7 Fiesta. Manning regularly competes in rallycross events in France, but with recent travel restrictions in place he’s taken the hardcharging Fiesta to hillclimb events at venues like Loton Park and Gurston Down.
Mike, from Carmarthen, had Grant Rees start the project from a road-going Fiesta shell. “It was built for rallycross. Underneath is Escort Cosworth running gear by Julian Godfrey,” he said.
It is a potent bit of kit but quite a handful on the narrow strips of asphalt that make up British hillclimb courses. With 600bhp and 663lb.ft, it’s a spectacular crowd-pleaser.
“I love putting a smile on people’s faces,” said the flying Welshman.