1992 ERC runner-up Pat Doran is set to unleash Group B power at Lydden Hill WorldRX.

To mark the UK round of the 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy, hosted at Lydden Hill, multiple British Rallycross champion Pat Doran is to drive his iconic Ford RS200 E2 as part of the Group B rally era demonstration this weekend.

Re-sprayed in the distinctive Q8 Oils livery that the car ran in the early 1990s, as well having been extensively rebuilt by the LD Motorsports workshops which prepares Liam Doran, Krzysztof Skorupski and Derek Tohill’s World Rallycross cars, this will be the first time that the historic Ford RS200 E2 has turned a wheel in over five years.

The iconic 800bhp machine took Doran from stage rallies to Rallycross, and also helped the Englishman fight for the win in his first ever British Rallycross Grand Prix. “It’s a big bit of history in a car,” explains Pat Doran. “She’s known as Rosie – because of the RS200 model name – and was part of a generous deal Ford gave me when I moved from rallying to Rallycross.”

“The car is an absolute animal. It’s sitting at about 800 horsepower, 0–60mph [0 to about 100km/h] in 1.9 seconds, and weighs just shy of a ton with a driver. There’s no anti lag on it, you have to put your foot on the throttle before you get to the corner, and wait for the boost to come in.”

“It will be fantastic to show the car off. It will be great to demonstrate how different these cars are to the modern breed of Rallycross cars. I think it’s going to make the ground shake! When you get in cars like the RS200 – you really know you’re in something different.”

“You’ve got an engine that is only six inches from your shoulder and you can feel it breathing in your ears. You’re not as detached as you are with modern cars, where the engine is in front. You’re part of that car – you sit in it the car. It’s a bit of a frightening feeling.”

Photo: In April 1992 Lydden Hill saw its last Group B era ERC round – and Pat Doran and ‘Rosie’ were part of it. © EL/ERC24