Bob’s Escort originally started life as a Mark III RS1600 Turbo shell. It was one of two Ford Motorsport development cars, fitted with a transverse BDT 1800 engine and development gearbox. The car was built by Gordon Spooner Engineering for Trevor Hopkins, who at the time was British Champion. Never really successful, Trevor abandoned the car in favour of an RS200, after only using it for eighteen months. It was sold to Mike Endene, founder of X-Trac Transmissions, dismantled and stored unceremoniously in tea chests for a couple of years. Bob bought the car in this state from Mike in 1987/1988. It was then re-assembled as a rolling shell and again stored, this time in Bob’s garage - for over a decade.

In 2003, Bob finally determined to finish the car. It was converted to an in-line configuration and fitted with a 5-speed Dog Gearbox and Cosworth YB, prepared by Field Motorsport. The car was finished in late 2004, making its first Rallycross appearance at Brands Hatch in October that year. Only having four injectors and in obvious need of development, engine failure at Lydden Hill in Easter 2005 provided an ideal opportunity to modify. The car’s Management System was replaced by one capable of running eight injectors, and its power output is now in the region of 500 BHP and improving steadily.

Gratitude and thanks go to the ever patient Carol, who has now added mechanic (well, trainee anyway) to her constantly growing list of duties, Tommy Field for providing his knowledge and expertise in engine development, and of course to the late, great Trevor Hopkins.