One to Buy: 1980 British Championship-winning Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800 Gr.4
Of all the legendary Ford Escorts to have have gone rallying, arguably the most iconic were the Rothmans-backed Mk2s built by David Sutton’s renowned outfit that appeared during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Having campaigned the Group 4 RS1800 in 1978 and ‘79, Sutton’s Daventry-based team ultimately became Ford’s quasi-works outfit between 1980 and ‘81 after Blue Oval management decided to focus on developing a Mk3-based Escort for the future.
Against the odds, Ari Vatanen went on to become 1980 British Rally Champion driving one of the Rothmans RS1800s, a feat eclipsed in 1981 when the Flying Finn was crowned World Rally Champion. To date, the David Sutton squad remains the only privateer outfit to have achieved this feat.
Currenly on offer at the Duncan Hamilton ROFGO showroom in Micheldever, Hampshire, is an Escort RS1800 used by Ari Vatanen throughout those famous 1980 and ‘81 campaigns: EUW 938V.
1980 saw the car driven to victory on the Welsh Rally while Vatanen and his co-driver, Dave Richards, also collected a quintet of second place finishes en route to that year’s title.
In 1981, EUW 938V took its second Welsh Rally win having placed second on the Maspalomas Rally a few weeks prior. After this, Rothmans team-mates Pentti Airikkala and Risto Virtanen used the car for a trio of outings scoring a best finish of seventh. In 1983, the RS1800 was driven to the German Rally Championship title by new owner, Walter Smolej.
Now offered in remarkably original restored condition, EUW 938V represents perhaps the pinnacle of Ford’s rally involvement with the Escort.
Reprinted below is Duncan Hamilton ROFGO’s description:
Ari Vatanen's Rothmans Rally Team 1980 British Rally Championship winner
1983 German Rally Championship winner with Walter Smolej
Museum-Quality Preservation: Without doubt one of the most original works Ford Escorts in existence
The most successful Rothmans Escort of them all
EUW 938V represents an iconic piece of rallying history, embodying the pinnacle of the Rothmans Escort program and the talent of legendary drivers like Ari Vatanen, Pentti Airikkala and co-drivers like David Richards.
In terms of Rothmans Escorts, its success across multiple championships, its preservation and its original Gartrac shell are unparalleled. And what’s more, it is something you could keep at home and use without trouble – two pumps on the throttle and hit the start button!
Built by Dave Sutton Cars for the Rothmans Rally Team program, specifically for Ari Vatanen, Ford's works driver (and subsequent World Rally Champion, four-time Dakar Rally winner, and Pikes Peak winner).
1980: Ari Vatanen and David Richards British Championship Winner
Mintex Rally: 2nd overall
Circuit of Ireland: 2nd overall
Welsh Rally: 1st overall
Scottish Rally: 2nd overall
C S Rally: 2nd overall
Manx Rally: 2nd overall
1981:
Maspalomas Rally (Vatanen/Richards): 2nd overall
Welsh Rally (Vatanen/Richards): 1st overall
Manx Rally (Airikkala/Virtanen): DNF
Corrte Ingles Rally (Airikkala/Virtanen): 7th overall
Tenerife Rally (Airikkala/Virtanen): DNF
1983 Walter Smolej German Championship Winner
Rallye ADAC Westfalen – Lippe-Fahrt: 1st overall
Rallye ADAC Saarland: 4th overall
Rallye ADAC Deutschland: 3rd overall
Rallye ADAC Drei Städte: 3rd overall
The car is not only a multiple rally-winning and multiple championship-winner machine but also an important piece of Ford and motorsport history. So often the hard life of a rally car means much of its originality is lost over time, but EUW 938V offers that incredibly rare opportunity to own a genuine and original survivor.
