As you know (or at least now you know) I am a rally nuts. And I really love the Sierras (called sapphires there in the UK). So I decided to start this thread to talk about the 1992 World Rally Championship season, because that was the last time we saw the works Sierras used (in 1993 the Escort came alive). But I will only focus on the Sierras, because we are on a Ford forum, and I do love these cars.
I want to apologize already for my crappy English, its not my native language, and I am doing my best to produce something readable.
I hope some of the Escort fans will do the same with the Escort, that would be nice. I think our cars really deserves some credit, even if the Sierra didn't win any major event, all the development work made on the Sierra has been used on the Escort with then some success !
Round 1 : Monte-Carlo Rally
Biasion joined the Ford Team for his first even in the Sierra, and that was not gonna be an easy one. He suffered various problems with the car, the main one being the Sierra was very different from his Delta. But for Delecour, after 1991's disaster when he was leading the rally before the very end, all started well, and he ended the 1st day in 2nd place, just behind Auriol (Delta) after making good tyres choices. But on the 2nd day, Delecour lost 30 seconds after a blown turbo and dropped to 4th place. The Fords ended the rally in quite poor positions for a rally that should have been a good opportunity to take, but the 4th version of the Delta was just too fast.
1st. Didier Auriol / Bernard Occelli - Lancia Delta HF Integrale (6h54m20)
2nd. Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya - Toyota Celica Turbo ST185 (+2m05)
3rd. Juha Kankkunen / Juha Piironen - Lancia Delta HF Integrale (+2m57)
4th. François Delecour / Daniel Grataloup - Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 (+4m42)
8th. Massimo Biasion / Tiziano Siviero - Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 (+16m58)
Round 2 : Swedish Rally
The works Sierras didn't take part to this rally.
Round 3 : Portugal Rally
After the Swedish Rally missed by Ford (because the rally only counted for the drivers' championship and not for the manufacturers' championship), both Delecour and Biasion hoped for a great result. And all started very well for both drivers, Delecour leading with a 35 seconds margin over 2nd place Biasion. Kankkunen was 4th, 50 seconds behind Delecour after the tarmac first day, while the Toyota Celicas were way far behind with suspensions problems. Day 2 started with disaster for Delecour on the first gravel stage, when his front diff broke, putting all engine oil down on the floor, resulting in an engine failure. Biasion dropped to 3rd place behind Aghini and KKK, with brakes and power steering problems, chased now by Sainz and his Toyota. On the last day Biasion got passed by Sainz, but took back 3rd place from Sainz after turbo problems, and 2nd place from Aghini after he went out of the road, to get a fantastic 2nd place, Ford's best result with the Sierra since it was introduced in rallying in 1990.
1st. Juha Kankkunen / Juha Piironen - Lancia Delta HF Integrale (6h24m37)
2nd. Massimo Biasion / Tiziano Siviero - Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 (+1m33)
3rd. Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya - Toyota Celica Turbo ST185 (+4m59)
---. François Delecour / Daniel Grataloup - Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 (retired)
Round 4 : Safari Rally
The works Sierras didn't take part to this rally.
Round 5 : Corsica Rally
Back in Europe, and the works Sierras are their with a great chance to win the rally, as they have been really good on tarmac so far. And indeed Delecour ended the first day in 2nd place, just 2 seconds behind Auriol who seemed to be unbeatable with the invincible Delta. But day 2 didn't start well for Delecour, dropping 14 seconds due to brake problems, then 20 seconds due to exhaust problem and finally drive-shaft problems which allowed Auriol to get valuable security. Delecour was now driving for second place, 1 minute behind Auriol. And again, Biasion complained about understeer on the car, despite lot of setting changes. He ended the rally in 7th place. But the 4th day was cancelled due to a drama in Bastia when a football stadium collapsed. Rescue crews of the Corsica Rally were sent there to help, and the rally was shortened, with a great final second place from Delecour.
1st. Didier Auriol / Bernard Occelli - Lancia Delta HF Integrale (6h34m49)
2nd. François Delecour / Daniel Grataloup - Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 (+1m26)
3rd. Philippe Bugalski / Denis Giraudet - Lancia Delta HF Integrale (+3m15)
7th. Massimo Biasion / Tiziano Siviero - Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 (+7m32)
Round 6 : Acropolis Rally
Probably the hardest even of the calendar. Biasion ran consistently in the top 3, helped by the retirement of both Toyotas in the same corner of the same stage ! Despite a broken damper, he managed to keep his second place quite a long time. Biasion attacked hard until the end of the rally, his 4 fastest stage times on the final day proves that but it wasn't enough to catch Auriol and he got passed by Kankkunen who fighted to keep the Ford behind. Delecour on his side got problem with his extinguisher and got a 2 minutes penalty because of that. Ford protested but the penalty remained. More disappointment for Delecour.
1st. Didier Aurio / Bernard Occelli - Lancia Delta HF Integrale (7h12m08)
2nd. Juha Kankkunen / Juha Piironen - Lancia Delta HF Integrale (+1m29)
3rd. Massimo Biasion / Tiziano Siviero - Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 (+2m25)
5th. François Delecour / Daniel Grataloup - Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 (+15m14)
>>> Next Rally : Finland Rally
Enjoy