See the Cortinas go head to head

A FIELD of classic Ford Cortinas, one of Australia’s legendary cars, will race it out at 47th Historic Winton on Saturday, May 25.

The race is a collaboration between Historic Winton, the Historic Touring Car Association of Victoria (HTCV) and Cortina Mk 1 Owners Club.

Secretary of the HTCV Jim Collins said that the Mk1 Cortina has been one of the most popular cars racing in Historic Touring Cars since it was first released in 1963.

“How better to celebrate the 60 plus years of competition than to have a “Cortina Challenge” feature race on the short track at the Historic Winton meeting where numerous drivers would have had their first experience of historic racing,” he said.

“The challenge is open to all Mk1 Cortina Group Nb and Nc class log-booked competition vehicles.”

Collins said that after promoting the concept of the ‘Cortina Challenge’ to various Mk1 Cortina drivers, they think it is a great idea and they are all looking forward to the event and especially their own feature race.

“The Winton short circuit used for Historic Winton has always been considered ideal for the Cortina.

“The drivers will be checking that they will have the right diff ratio for their car, and that brakes are in excellent working order before the event,” Collins said.

Like the previous Mini Dash, Historic Winton introduced special ‘type-only’ races to the program a couple of years ago.

Historic Winton race secretary, Peta Lee, said that Cortinas have always been uncompromising competitors in the Group N touring car races against all sorts of hard-top cars, big and small.

“Spectators enjoy seeing much beloved, former everyday vehicles race and it draws quite a crowd,” Lee said.

“Cortinas were a small, family car that was Ford’s competitor to the Holden Torana.

“In fact, there have been some edge-of-your-seat moments in the past in the Group N events, with Minis and Cortinas entering into close battle, so it will be interesting to see just how competitive Cortina against Cortina becomes.”