Corgi VA11000 Ford Escort Mk3 RS1600i – 1984 BSCC Class C Champion, Richard Longman

In 1980, the first front wheel drive Escort, the Mk3 was born, though its competition potential was not as immediate as earlier marks. Then in 1982, Ford approached former British Saloon Car Class Champion and motorsport preparation expert Richard Longman with the idea of him running a worksbacked team in the 1983 British Saloon Car Championship. Sponsorship from Royal Mail Datapost and Avon Tyres meant that the cars were among the most eye-catching on the grid. Despite both Richard and team mate Alan Curnow gaining three class wins, they lost the Class C Championship. However, after many improvements throughout the Winter, Richard went on to win the 1984 BSCC Class C Championship by twenty-nine points, equating from six of the eleven events contested, also taking the Constructors’ Prize. If he had not got caught up in someone else’s accident at Brands Hatch, he may have bettered second place in the overall Championship.