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The RS1600i might not work in modern group 1 historic racing but having a look in Jeremy Waltons "RS the faster Fords" it was never intended for this use. It was conceived by Ford Motorsport in Germany (Köln/Cologne I presume) and initially only intended to be produced in 5.000 units to be eligeble for the new group N and A regulations. Surprise sales meant that a total of 8,659 cars were produced before the end of production in late 1983. This, on the other hand, meant homologation ran out after 31 December, 1988.
Here in Denmark we have a very succesfull group N-based series run to a power-to-weight ratio. Back when it started in 1982 it was set at 8 kgs for 1 bhp (don't know how to translate that to bhp/ton). The XR3 was eligeble for '82 while the XR3i was introduced for '83. When the Escort Mk. III ended its welcome in the series in 1986 only one driver ever went the RS1600i route - and he was a Ford sales man anyway, the name being Benny Hall. All other drivers shyed away from the extra 10 bhp because it would put an exstra 80 kgs into the car. The scarcity of the RS1600i might also have contributed, as I never recall to have seen a road going car in the country.
Jesper
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