This well known video was going to feature in our
40 years of the WRC
feature until we realised this was Ari Vatanen not in an Escort, but an Opel Manta. But it had left such an indelible impression it just had to feature at some point.
You have hopefully surmised from the screengrab that the onboard clip involves some very, very committed driving. It's unbelievably frantic in fact, to the point where some of the footage almost appears in fast forward. Dabs (and huge big armfuls) of opposite lock are thrown at the wheel instantaneously, gear changes are flashed through and the scenery vanishes at an indecent rate.
The first two minutes make for scintillating viewing, then comes the 'Dear God' from co-drive Terry Harryman. The car gets hugely out of shape approaching a narrow gate, and is literally just recovered before what would have been a huge crash. It's a real heart-in-mouth movement.
They pick up a puncture as a result, but still the dedication to driving at maximum attack continues unabated. It really is a lesson in balls-out rallying, and superb viewing.