Ford's original prototype for the forthcoming Group B rally car regulations was the rear-wheel drive Escort RS1700T; however, their competitors were proving that four-wheel drive was the superior rally drivetrain. In light of converting the existing car to 4WD, work was abandoned in 1983 in favour of starting anew on a high-tech 4WD car - the Ford RS200. It was the first bespoke Group B car that did not draw its design from an existing road car. The Escort's 1,778cc turbocharged 4-cylinder engine was carried over, but was bored out to 1,803cc and mounted behind the driver. All four wheels were suspended on double wishbones with dual dampers.
Despite a drivable prototype being constructed by 1984, the car only began competing in 1986; the final season of Group B cars in the WRC. Its best result was a sole 3rd place in its debut event at the 36th International Swedish Rally, at the hands of Kalle Grundel.
The RS200 was directly involved in the banning of Group B cars, due to an accident at the Rallye de Portugal in which driver Joaqium Santos lost control and struck a crowd of spectators, killing three spectators and injuring thirty. This, and the following the deaths of the Tour de Corse, sealed the fate of the Group B rally cars[1].
While the RS200 (and its fellow Group B cars) could not compete at an international level, a handful of national rally championships continued to allow the use of them, alongside the sport of rallycross[2].
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