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Ford RS & Rally Memorabilia The Mk3 Rally Escorts |
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XR3
RS1600i
RS S1Turbo West Cork 85 Circuit of Ireland 85 Welsh 85 Scottish 85 Ulster Rally 85 Rothmans Manx 85 RAC 85
European RS1600i's Rallye Principe de Asturias 83 Rallye Sanremo 83 Rallye Antibes 83 |
8th Ulster Rally 29/30 July 1983 - Belfast 81 Starters, 53 Finishers, 25 Special Stages
7 Malcolm Wilson / Phil Short, Gp A Ford Escort RS1600i, 25 Louise Aitken / Ellen Morgan, Gp A Ford Escort RS1600i,
Motoring News Wed Aug 03 '83 p10 FORD - After recent developments in the gearbox department, Ford was confident of its little Escort RS1600i for Malcolm Wilson / Phil Short and Louise Aitken / Ellen Morgan. New crown wheel and pinions had been homologated for the transmission, which has fewer teeth giving the troublesome units more strength. Engines were the same as seen before in the Open series and hopes were generally high in the Ford camp in Ulster.
Autosport Aug 4, '83 p25 FORD - With the Escort RS1600i gearbox problems apparently rectified at last, Malcolm Wilson's confidence took a smack the day before the start when another unit failed. It turned out to be a build problem however in that particular gearbox as supplied from the factory and the matter was quickly tidied up. Both Wilson and Lousie Aitken were using the same cars as seen on the Scottish Rally and again Pirelli tyres were in use, with both drivers pleased with wear and grip.
Autosport Aug 4, '83 p25 In the Ford camp, Malcolm Wilson’s Escort RS1600i was also suffering brake problems when they started to fade very badly. He also had his car’s quick rack changed back to a standard one after finding it difficult to place the car precisely over the jumpy roads.
The fifth stage gave Malcolm Wilson a problem with a broken spark plug in his Escort’s engine, giving fear of piston damage.
Wilson’s brake problem persisted, with the MCD team and the AP man all racking their brains for a solution.
Malcolm Wilson was about to take Chris Lord’s Mazda,..., although the engine sounded rough at times, whilst just behind and putting the pressure on was Louise Aitken.
So, at the half way point..., Malcolm Wilson, who had virtually carried the poor little Escort onto the top 10, having suffered from a lack of power, and a lack of brakes at various times. The Escort, however, had begun to express its disapproval at his kind of treatment, and was emitting clouds of ominous looking smoke.
In Group A Eklund again showed the way (and became group champion) this time with Chris Lord's Mazda RX7 in second place. The Mazda was later excluded as the car was fitted with group 1 engine modifications, which under the terms of its transferred homologation could not be used in Group A. This meant that Aitken's Ford was elevated to second in the group.
Brookes reliability wasn’t shared with Malcolm Wilson, who cruised his Escort into service after seizing the engine a couple of times on stage 15 due to a damaged piston stemming from his broken plug way back on stage three. With his challenge ended, it was up to Louise Aitken to fly the Ford flag alone, holding third GpA place behind Eklund and Lord.
Autosport Aug 11, '83 p44 photo Louise Aitken's drive was again impressive, particularly as she progressed through the rally and learned to use her own notes. She could not however, match the times of her team-mate Malcolm Wilson, who was in determined mood. MCD's Dave Campion fully understood the commitment from the Cumbrian driver as every time the little RS1600i racer arrived at a service point, co-driver Phil Short would be talking about three octaves higher than normal.
RESULTS Due to post scrutineering decisions to provisionally exclude the Mazda Cars UK entry of Chris Lord, results from ninth place down are still provisional pending that outcome. Louise Aitken / Ellen Morgan are currently placed 11th in their Escort RS1600i.
Rally Sport Sept, '83 p44 7 Malcolm Wilson / Phil Short Misfire on early stages; no brakes for five stages; once these had been sorted, he overhauled Lord (8) to hold second in GpA and was tenth overall at Omagh. Retired with engine seizure soon after.
25 Louise Aitken / Ellen Morgan Fresh from her astonishing victory on the RAC National Championship Russek Rally; diced in GpA with Lord (8) and Cathcart (19); climbed from 13th at Omagh to tenth at finish. picture 74 P47
Chris Lord Excluded, Louise Aitken raised to 10th and 2nd in Class
Reference World Rallying 6 Motoring News Wed Aug 03 '83 p10 Autosport Aug 4, '83 p25 Autosport Aug 11, '83 p44 Rally Sport Sept, '83 p44
Next - Rothmans Manx International
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