ROLLING BACK THE YEARS WITH FORD
In Motorsport News this week, we reflect on all that is great about Ford in motorsport. It is a huge topic, and we have hand-picked some highlights from the Blue Oval’s decorated history on the circuits and on the stages. What is notable about the products that it has used for competition is the longevity that its machines have earned. Just look at the high appeal of the Ford Escort Mk2 in rallying, or the Kent-engined Formula Ford category, which is still going strong some five-and-a-half decades after it first hit the circuits.
Then look at sportscars, where the iconic GT40 has recently been immortalised on the silver screen with the Le Mans ’66 film. Then consider the ultimate Group A tin-top racer, the Ford Sierra RS500.
All of these machines have been icons of their time, the poster pin-up machines that have adorned 1000s of bedroom walls for younger motorsport fans.
Ford could be seen as a firm that has ‘dallied’ with motor racing. Motorsport is, or course, cyclical. Often the firm would come into a category with a blaze of glory, take some silverware and then turn its attentions elsewhere. That is probably only so evident with Ford because it has been around for so long and has turned its attention to so many different disciplines of competition.
Unlike a lot of other manufacturers that are involved in motorsport, the link between what is going on in the global road-car markets has more effect for the Blue Oval than it does for perhaps any other firm. And it has been very aware of that in the past. When the markets slump, spending cash on motorsport is one of the first things that the board will bring under the spotlight.
Motorsport News has taken a look at Ford and highlighted some of its most memorable cars and achievements. It can’t do anything other than put a smile on the face.
The incumbent of the readers’ Q&A hot seat is a man who drove
Ford to huge tin-top success in the 1970s and 1980s, Andy Rouse. We also uncover the remarkable story of how he was recently reunited with his 1989 British Touring Car Championship racer, which is now owned by charismatic national racer Michael Caine.
Elsewhere in this issue, we have all the action from the World Rally Championship’s return to Finland last weekend, where Hyundai’s Ott Tanak managed to stem the tide from Toyota by taking his second victory of the season. While that might have finally put paid to Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera’s run of glory, his inevitable march to a maiden World title was galvanised with a secondplace finish. There are five rounds remaining in 2022, and the young Finn seems to be a shoo-in for the crown.