The 'Cossack' liveried Ford Escort Mk2 that Roger Clark drove to second place on the 1975 RAC Rally, 'LAR 800P' will return to competition on this weekend's Roger Albert Clark Rally in the hands of Andrew Siddall.XS Racing has restored the car for Yorkshireman Siddall, a regular contender on the event. It has been prepared to FIA specification and will compete on the Roger Albert alongside 'LAR 601P', the ex-Timo Makinen car now in the hands of Dave Watkins. In 1975, the two cars finished one-two on the RAC Rally.
The famous car finished second on its debut event, the 1975 RAC Rally. Now, 34 years later, it will return to competition on the event run in memory of Clark, with backing from Siddall and Hilton Products.
"It's the best rally of the year," said Siddall. "But I'm on a big learning curve for this event with the BDA-powered Mk2." Siddall will be partnered as usual by Captain Thompson and last year they finished eighth overall and first in class in Siddall's Pinto-powered Escort Mk1.
XS Racing will enter a four-car team on the Roger Albert Clark Rally, and joining Siddall/Thompson will be Peter Smith/Russ Langthorne (Porsche 911), Peter Egerton/Patrick Walsh (Escort Mk1) and Guy Smith/Howard Pridmore (Escort Mk1).
While Peter Smith and Peter Egerton campaign the cars they have rallied regularly this season, Guy Smith is on a massive learning curve in what will be only his third ever rally. The 2003 Le Mans winner is competing alongside his father Peter and has his sights set on finishing as he accumulates more rallying experience.
Team boss John Cropper says that the Roger Albert Clark Rally is the toughest on the calendar for both the crews and the support team. "It's the biggest event of the year for us and we'll have a team of 15 to look after the cars. There will be seven guys in the service vans and then two people in each of the four management cars," said Cropper. "It is a tough rally, but I hope that all four cars will have good runs. We've got a strong team."
For more details about the Roger Albert Clark Rally, please visit www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org
