Fast Ford – September 2019

I

t is perhaps understandable

that those rally cars

homologated in the immediate

aftermath of Group B’s sudden,

premature cancellation at the end of the

1986 are often overlooked, lacking in both

technical sophistication and drama as they

doubtless were – certainly in comparison to

what had immediately preceded them. Cars

like the DF HF AWD, the Renault 11 Turbo

and Mazda 323 Turbo, none could hope to

match the likes of an RS200 for drama, let

alone stage presence and pace – at least not

to begin with.

Yet it really didn’t take long for the early

Group A cars to develop a cult following

all of their own, one lent further charm

and credence through the sheer variety of

machinery shoved to the fore in the wake

of Group B’s demise. Front, rear and four-

wheel drive cars were all well represented,

as were cars fed through natural aspiration

The Sierra Cosworth may bet better known for its success in

touring cars, especially in dominant RS500 guise, but from

1987 to 1990 the iconic whale-tail Cossie had a compelling

career in Group A rallying too...

Words JAMIE ARKLE

THE COSWORTH

ER A BEGINS

and forced induction, either by way of a

turbo or, in the case of the VW Golf Rallye, a

VXSHUFKDUJHUb

One of the most compelling if not

necessarily successful was the Ford Sierra

RS Cosworth, specifically the three-door,

two-wheel drive version campaigned by

Boreham from 1987 to 1990. Ford had

more reason than most to rue the demise

of Group B, what with its ground-breaking

RS200 having emerged mere months

The Sierra Cossie may be better

known for its circuit racing, but it

was a formidable rally car too

MOTORSPORT MEMORIES

Ѵ FAS T FOR D SEPTEMBER 2019

I

t is perhaps understandable

that those rally cars

homologated in the immediate

aftermath of Group B’s sudden,

premature cancellation at the end of the

1986 are often overlooked, lacking in both

technical sophistication and drama as they

doubtless were – certainly in comparison to

what had immediately preceded them. Cars

like the DF HF AWD, the Renault 11 Turbo

and Mazda 323 Turbo, none could hope to

match the likes of an RS200 for drama, let

alone stage presence and pace – at least not

to begin with.

Yet it really didn’t take long for the early

Group A cars to develop a cult following

all of their own, one lent further charm

and credence through the sheer variety of

machinery shoved to the fore in the wake

of Group B’s demise. Front, rear and four-

wheel drive cars were all well represented,

as were cars fed through natural aspiration

The Sierra Cosworth may bet better known for its success in

touring cars, especially in dominant RS500 guise, but from

1987 to 1990 the iconic whale-tail Cossie had a compelling

career in Group A rallying too...

Words JAMIE ARKLE

THE COSWORTH

ER A BEGINS

and forced induction, either by way of a

turbo or, in the case of the VW Golf Rallye, a

VXSHUFKDUJHUb

One of the most compelling if not

necessarily successful was the Ford Sierra

RS Cosworth, specifically the three-door,

two-wheel drive version campaigned by

Boreham from 1987 to 1990. Ford had

more reason than most to rue the demise

of Group B, what with its ground-breaking

RS200 having emerged mere months

The Sierra Cossie may be better

known for its circuit racing, but it

was a formidable rally car too

MOTORSPORT MEMORIES

Ѵ FAS T FOR D SEPTEMBER 2019