1986 Ford RS200
The Ford RS200 is a legendary Group B rally car produced by Ford Motorsport from 1984 to 1986. The car had little resemblance to any mainstream production model, apart from the 200 road-going units constructed for homologation purposes. Designed by Ghia, it exemplified Ford’s commitment to rally performance. The RS200 Evolution variants produced over 600 horsepower in competition trim. Despite its specialized design, the RS200 faced challenges, particularly with turbo lag from its small-capacity Cosworth-tuned engine, making it a demanding car to handle.
1.8-liter Cosworth BDT inline-four engine, which is turbocharged to deliver significant performance, produces around 250 horsepower in the road-going version, while the rally version’s output can reach up to 450 horsepower. This power allows the RS200 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 3.0 seconds, making it one of the fastest-accelerating cars of its time. The RS200 features a mid-engine, four-wheel-drive layout, which provides excellent balance and traction, crucial for rallying. Its chassis is a combination of a steel spaceframe and fiberglass body panels, designed to keep the weight low and the structure strong. The suspension system is a double wishbone setup with adjustable coilovers, ensuring the car can handle the rough terrains and high speeds of rally stages.
Although unveiled in 1984, Ford didn’t complete the necessary 200 road cars until 1986, coinciding with the final season of Group B rallying. The RS200 competed against other legendary Group B rally cars like the Audi Quattro, Lancia Delta S4, and Peugeot 205 T16, showcasing Ford’s engineering prowess. Tragically, one of the factory-entered RS200s was involved in a fatal accident in Portugal, resulting in the deaths of three spectators and injuries to numerous others. This tragic event played a pivotal role in the decision to discontinue the increasingly hazardous Group B category. While Group B was short-lived, the RS200 achieved success in various rally events, including podium finishes in the WRC and other international competitions.