The Ford Escort 1600 RS is definitely more well known for its exploits on rally special stages than on the track. But it should not be forgotten that this saloon hero did spend a lot of its life going racing.
That twin-cam engine is one you’d normally expect to hear bouncing off the limiter and being jabbed into life as its coaxed around a wet forest in Wales, so hearing one allowed to wind round the dial naturally in the south of France is always a pleasure. Which brings us to the closing event of Peter Auto's 2019 season, held at the home of the French Grand Prix, the Le Castellet circuit, more commonly known as Paul Ricard.
We're in Heritage Touring Cup territory again, a series whose exploits we have brought you several times this year, but perhaps not quite as spectacularly as this. The Escort, perhaps harking back to its famous rally days, is a little recalcitrant when it comes to going round the corner sensibly. In fact it basically wants to be a drift Escort.
It leads to some pretty hairy moments, especially at the long hairpin that comes shortly after the legendary Mistral straight. A corner at which we reckon if you were watching from outside, that Escort probably never had its wheels straight. It's good old fashioned fun, and we really wish we could tell you who the driver was, but we don't actually know. If you do, then let us know below!
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Paul Ricard
Ford
Escort
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