FORD 83C TO RACE!

FORD 83C TO RACE!

The stillborn Ford 83C sports-racer is set to return to the tracks in 2005 following a protracted 10-year rebuild. If current plans are realised, the car should be tested in the spring by touring car and former works Aston and Jaguar Group C driver David Leslie: it could then be in battle before the end of the year in a Group C/GTP race.

The 83C was the successor to the C100 and was built and tested for the 1983 season. However, after a 1000km test at Paul Ricard in the hands of Marc Surer, the project was axed when Cosworth could not guarantee that the new turbo engine would be ready by the time the season kicked off.

Instead the car was converted into the •Supervan. Ford Transit Mk11 lookalike and was demonstrated regularly at race meetings, often driven by Chris Craft and Chris Meek. More recently it was on show at the Museum of Transport in Coventry. from where it was retrieved in 1995 by its

current owner Bryan Wingfield.

The car is now being put back to its original spec using the monocoque that was prepared for the second, unbuilt chassis, albeit now fitted with a factory 3.9-litre DFL.

Also due to appear on the GpC/GTP grid in 2005 is Richard Eyre with an ex-Kremer Porsche 962. The Leyton House-livened car has already made a winning debut at Estoril, against largely Group 6 opposition.