Goodwood Festival Of Speed 2014: British Rally Champion to make rare appearance

The Pilot Escort RS Cosworth that won the 1994 MSA British Rally Championship will be celebrating the 20^th anniversary of its success by making a rare public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Driven by Malcolm Wilson, the Team Principal of the M-Sport World Rally Team, the Escort RS Cosworth dominated the 1994 British MSA Rally Championship, with four stage wins.

The car was built by Malcolm Wilson Motorsport in 1992 and competed the following year in the British Rally Championship. With Wilson driving and Bryan Thomas as co-driver, the car won the 1993 Ulster International Rally and finished third overall on the RAC Rally. However, the car’s highlight year was in 1994, when it won the Pirelli, Scottish, Ulster and Manx International rallies, to claim the BRC title.

The car was then sold and raced in regional rally events before eventually being consigned to storage. It was not until 2002 the Escort RS Cosworth was rediscovered and restored to its former glory. Since then it has only made a handful of public appearances, with its current owner George Gauld behind the wheel.

George Gauld said: “It depressed me seeing the car dismantled and in boxes, so in 2002 we had it completely rebuilt and restored to its original as new condition. It hasn’t been driven in anger since and only really seen at local cars shows, where it always attracts a lot of attention. It’s an iconic British rally car and people have very fond memories of watching Malcolm Wilson win the British Rally Championship title in it.”

The Michelin Pilot Escort RS Cosworth will appear on the Michelin stand at the Festival of Speed on 26-29 June.