XR6 Rally Cortina

[IndianaJones]

Did you know?

In 1981, when Ford were looking at replacing the Mk2 Escort rally car, Ford in South Africa, as well as Britain and Germany developed/tested the Cortina XR6 as a works rally car.

Two such models was rallied in Europe, with no other major sponsorship besides Ford.
Apparently the FIA homologation papers for the Mk4/5 Cortina/Taunus shows an amendment for the “XR6 package”. Allowing the Europeans to use the 3L Essex V6 engine and 5-link rear suspension South African Cortina’s were built with in motorsport, instead of the suspension and 2.3L Cologne V6 used in European Cortina’s.

One Cortina, reg nr NHK 244 V, was rallied in Britain, out of Boreham, by Julian Raymond, with a 1.3L two door UK-spec Cortina Mk5 shell, and 250bhp triple carbed Essex V6(ala “Interceptor”) and Group 4 Escort 5-link rear suspension as a testbed and possible replacement for the Mk2 Escort.

The other, reg nr KLM 125, was loaned to German rally driver, Michael Werner with a 4 door SA-spec Cortina XR6 shell and 180PS single Weber twin choke carbed Essex V6, badged as a “Taunus S”, sometimes referred to as a “Taunus XR6” in the results and campaigned in the 1981 and 1982 German Rally Championship, in which he ended up 6th for the 1982 season, as well as some rounds of European Rally Championship and European International events, against cars such as the Porsche 924 GTS, Audi Quattro, Opel Ascona 400 and Escort BDA.

Initially Ford in South Africa had planned to make use of BDA-powered Cortina's from the middle of 1981. The Cortina was selected since it was a bestseller in SA and was the remaining RWD platform, the Mk2 Escort were no longer produced, and Ford were uncertain of the amount of traction a powerful FWD Mk3 Escort could have. The development of a class B(Group 1.5), V6 Cortina gained favour when talks of eliminating the class A(Group 4), 16-valve 4 cylinder(multivalve) engine class in the SA National Rally Championship started. Some manufacturers(mainly Toyota and Datsun) favoured the use of cheaper “standard” 8-valve engines, instead of the more costly, exotic 16-valve power units(Ford BDA, Toyota 152E 18R-G and Datsun LZ engines). One reason was cutting costs, they would be able to sponsor more factory backed/works cars, and thus have a greater chance at winning the manufacturer's trophy. Another reason was that it would boost entry numbers, i.e. if each manufacturer could back 10 cars, each event would have 50 entrants already. Also, the public would better associate with the cars, as normally the 16 valve power units wasn't for sale in standard road cars. The existing class A cars, would then only be used in international events.

The XR6 Rally Cortina would literally have been a rallying “Interceptor”, with just over 220bhp. It does not seem to have been rallied in competition in South Africa, as in 1981 Sarel was still successfully campaigning the Mk2 BDA Escort and elected to finish the season with it, and the rallying governing body eventually voted in favour of the use of multi-valve engines until 1983. Further development of the Cortina was then put on halt, as the new Sierra platform would be introduced in 1984, so focus switched to the FWD MK3 Escort platform, with the development of the RWD Mk3 Escort RS1700T as a more feasible long term replacement. History would teach us however, that shortly thereafter the Audi Quattro effectively forced all major players to build AWD rally cars.

If anyone have more information on these XR6 rally cars, particularly of any SA development cars, please share.

Also see viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1172

[colin davids]

Interesting. I did not know that. I'm sure that intercepter would have brought more spectators to the rallies. Like the straight six skylines did. Six cylinders sucking through triple carbs.

[Gavin RS]

Some nice history there I am sure most did not know about, I have some magazines with those articles back in the day, must look for them.

[KSF]

Very interesting, did not know this.

It may be well known (?), but at the time Ford SA was working on replacing the Cosworth V6 Escort from Manufaturers Challenge with a Mk5 Cortina. The series unfortunately ended before they could complete it and race it. In the following years Ford concentrated on the Interceptor program for Group1 racing and did not persue modified saloon racing, but prior to that they did build and race (twice) a 3l Cortina XR6 in the then Star modifieds. Sarel drove, but the car was not competitive with the front runners. Perhaps one should say "not competitive enough" as it did run with them. But the fact that one Hennie van der Linde in a 10 year old second hand Capri V6 was beating it was just not good PR and since the Marketing department held the racing budget, they canned it.

I have a pic or two somewhere, must go look.

[Glen]

Did you know?

In 1981, when Ford were looking at replacing the Mk2 Escort rally car, Ford in South Africa, as well as Britain and Germany developed/tested the Cortina XR6 as a works rally car.

Two such models was rallied in Europe, with no other major sponsorship besides Ford.
Apparently the FIA homologation papers for the Mk4/5 Cortina/Taunus shows an amendment for the “XR6 package”. Allowing the Europeans to use the 3L Essex V6 engine and 5-link rear suspension South African Cortina’s were built with in motorsport, instead of the suspension and 2.3L Cologne V6 used in European Cortina’s.

One Cortina, reg nr NHK 244 V, was rallied in Britain, out of Boreham, by Julian Raymond, with a 1.3L two door UK-spec Cortina Mk5 shell, and 250bhp triple carbed Essex V6(ala “Interceptor”) and Group 4 Escort 5-link rear suspension as a testbed and possible replacement for the Mk2 Escort.

The other, reg nr KLM 125, was loaned to German rally driver, Michael Werner with a 4 door SA-spec Cortina XR6 shell and 180PS single Weber twin choke carbed Essex V6, badged as a “Taunus S”, sometimes referred to as a “Taunus XR6” in the results and campaigned in the 1981 and 1982 German Rally Championship, in which he ended up 6th for the 1982 season, as well as some rounds of European Rally Championship and European International events, against cars such as the Porsche 924 GTS, Audi Quattro, Opel Ascona 400 and Escort BDA.

Initially Ford in South Africa had planned to make use of BDA-powered Cortina's from the middle of 1981. The Cortina was selected since it was a bestseller in SA and was the remaining RWD platform, the Mk2 Escort were no longer produced, and Ford were uncertain of the amount of traction a powerful FWD Mk3 Escort could have. The development of a class B(Group 1.5), V6 Cortina gained favour when talks of eliminating the class A(Group 4), 16-valve 4 cylinder(multivalve) engine class in the SA National Rally Championship started. Some manufacturers(mainly Toyota and Datsun) favoured the use of cheaper “standard” 8-valve engines, instead of the more costly, exotic 16-valve power units(Ford BDA, Toyota 152E 18R-G and Datsun LZ engines). One reason was cutting costs, they would be able to sponsor more factory backed/works cars, and thus have a greater chance at winning the manufacturer's trophy. Another reason was that it would boost entry numbers, i.e. if each manufacturer could back 10 cars, each event would have 50 entrants already. Also, the public would better associate with the cars, as normally the 16 valve power units wasn't for sale in standard road cars. The existing class A cars, would then only be used in international events.

The XR6 Rally Cortina would literally have been a rallying “Interceptor”, with just over 220bhp. It does not seem to have been rallied in competition in South Africa, as in 1981 Sarel was still successfully campaigning the Mk2 BDA Escort and elected to finish the season with it, and the rallying governing body eventually voted in favour of the use of multi-valve engines until 1983. Further development of the Cortina was then put on halt, as the new Sierra platform would be introduced in 1984, so focus switched to the FWD MK3 Escort platform, with the development of the RWD Mk3 Escort RS1700T as a more feasible long term replacement. History would teach us however, that shortly thereafter the Audi Quattro effectively forced all major players to build AWD rally cars.

If anyone have more information on these XR6 rally cars, particularly of any SA development cars, please share.

Also see viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1172

thanks for this interesting information we were kept from alot of things way back then

[IndianaJones]

Some brief footage of "NHK 244 V" in this Youtube clip...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE6vWLjK0IQ