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Video: People used to race Escort Cosworths vs Civic and it was chaos!

04th January 2023
Ethan Jupp

When we say 1990s touring cars, you start thinking of the amazing super tourers, don’t you? Well they weren’t the only tin tops on the scene. Let us transport you back almost 30 years, to a grid full of Escort Cosworths, BMWs, Vauxhall Astra GTEs, Honda Civic VTECs, Rover 220 Gtis and more. Yes, this is a round-up of the 1993 National Saloon Car Cup, previously known as the national ‘Group N’ Championship.

These long-running, multi-class enduros put near-production-spec cars to the ultimate test. Save for the stripped and caged cabins, stiff suspension and slicks, these really were cars you could buy. That means that certain cars had certain advantages depending on conditions. At wet rounds like those at Silverstone, Donington and Brands Hatch, the all-wheel-drive Escort Cosworths basically had the monopoly. The rest of the time, in the dry, the more lightweight more conventional machinery proved to be a bit more nimble. Because this is a saloon car championship, of course there were a few bends and more than a little contact too. Should there be a new National Saloon Car Cup, with stripped-out barely-prepared modern hot hatches? We’d love to see it.

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the previous video: An emotional goodbye to the Ford Fiesta

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  • National Saloon Car Cup

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  • Civic

  • Silverstone

  • Donington Park

  • Brands Hatch

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