Show an enthusiastic driver in a fast rally car 14 sweeping bends winding through a densely forested National Park and you will bring a smile to their face.
Sunshine Coast business owner John Lay will be smiling when he gets to the top of the Noosa Winter Hill climb in his replica of a famous Ford Escort Rally car. Not the first time rally cars have been up the Hill as more than 20 years ago the road was a night stage for the Rally of Queensland, and then a few years later in 2007 a special stage of the Suncoast Classic.
Ford’s Escort RS1800 racked up years of success in the 70’s in the hands of Swedish driver Bjorn Waldegard who won several World Rally Championships including the Lombard Rally in 77, the Acropolis Rally in 77 and 79, the Safari Rally in 77 and the International Swedish Rally in 78.
John’s car is a genuine Group 4 left hand drive RS2000 rally car imported from Germany.
It runs a built 2 litre YB Cosworth DOHC 16 valve motor with Watts linkage suspension, ZF gearbox and big four piston brakes. The car is tarmac only and was never raced on the dirt.
John has a family history racing with both his father and brother competing in a variety of cars in New Zealand.
He is looking forward to returning to the Hill in 2025 as he finds the competition very relaxed and friendly and says “the winding tarmac track is an opportunity to develop your driving skills and to get to know your car”.
Want a good view of the Escort in action? Catch the free bus from the pits to the grandstand at turn 10. Noosa Winter Hill is on 14-15 June.
