Ford Tough - Paul Nevill’s RS2000

It is said that a true Ford fan bleeds blue. Although he has never actually shown anyone the proof, it is obvious that the love of the blue oval courses through Paul Nevill’s veins. The 57 year-old managing director from Welwyn, Herts. has been racing for thirty years utilizing both an Escort Cosworth and his current RS2000. As many racers will tell you, it is tough to find a series that both fits with your lifestyle and is enjoyable at the same time. And like the odd racer before him he found that the answer to that problem would be to start his own series and to that end he did. In mid 2019 he established the Modified Ford Series which began organizing events in 2020 with a combined grid with the Classic and Modern Motorsport Club (CMMC). The series quickly became a success and in 2021 it became affiliated with the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC). Prior to becoming a promoter Paul had competed in various series and championships, driving the afore mentioned Escort RS2000 and Cosworth. He has including many one-off races like the Birkett 6 Hours Relay at Silverstone which is the UK’s biggest motor race. Dating back to 1951, the race was the brainchild of one

of the Club’s founding members – Holland ‘Holly’ Birkett. Following Birkett’s death, the event was subsequently renamed in honour of the Club President. 2021 represented the 70th anniversary of the six-hour race event making it one of Britain’s longest established races. Paul has also ventured to Spa for the British Sports – GT & Saloon 6 Hour Challenge. Unlike many racers who got into car racing because of their father Paul’s father passed away before he was old enough to drive on the road. He was into Trial Biking, so it was two-wheel motorsport that I grew up being involved in. Although I do recall he wasn’t happy that I wanted to get a bike for the road, which I guess I understand now as I wouldn’t want it for my own kids, knowing the dangers. Friends around the neighbourhood were always

messing with cars and engines so I joined in, and it evolved from there. RS Fords like the Mexico and RS2000 were popular and cheapish back in the day and you could get all the performance mods needed for them because of their racing background. In 1990 a new series started for these type of cars, similar to what we have in the Modified Ford Series, but 30 years ago. And that’s where it started for me, the rest is history as they say. As far as being successful in motorsport, Nevill has garnered multiple top three awards and a handful of season Class Championships. Going into the final event of 2021 Nevill had the opportunity to take the overall championship but it was not destined to be when he collected a car that had spun in front of him at the first corner resulting in a DNF (did not finish)

The organising committee of the series decided that it required a class structure to suit the myriad of chassis/engine cominations that are seen in Ford race cars. Nevill runs a 2.3 litre 16V Ford Duratec in place of the 2 litre Pinto that the car came with originally. That puts him in Class B1 that is for normally aspirated multi-valve engines over 2251cc or 1.6L Ecoboost motors. When asked about why he chose a Duratec over a Pinto based motor he replied, “Following the success of the Sierra and Escort in motorsport, the Cosworth YB engine became more available and it was the Fords natural progression to achieve more power over the Pinto, having 16 valves. I couldn’t afford the change at the time and I was actually still quite competitive with the Pinto, so I didn’t bother. But as time moved on the output of the 16v engines got greater with throttle bodies, engine components, fuel management etc. Now with big power output engines like the Millington and Smith & Jones, the Duratec is the more economical way to remain competitive and is the choice of many racers in the series.” Those of you who follow the escalating prices of classic Ford RS car might ask the question, “Do you regret turning the RS into a race car considering some of the prices original cars are making now?” Paul replied, “None at all. They were originally built stronger so it was ready to race. And back then nobody had ever envisioned an RS making almost £100,000 at auction. I guess it makes my race car more valuable than others having an RS registration document.”

Paul is quite famous for his one liners, one being “It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part” and nothing is truer when you are putting on a succesful race series. Luckily Paul has great help within the series and it allows him to be a competitor as well as the promoter. When we asked him who his toughest competitor is, he came out with another of his famous one lines and said, “The guy beside me on the grid!” As to the future and what his plans for the RS2000 are Paul noted, “The plan is to just keep going, doing more of the same but I have no plans to upgrade the car just yet, but you know how that goes!”

Nevill made a point that the success of the series was not down to one of two people and he wanted to give a shout out to all involved. “Thanks to everyone who competes in the Modified Ford Series, you are the show and what a great show you put on.” “A special thanks to committee members Chris Baker, Jimmy Neophytou and Jamie Gough for sharing my vision and making the Modified Ford Series the success it is.”

“Thanks to all our sponsors especially Scalextric for continuing their support into 2022, it is great to have a recognized name like theirs associated with the series. It proves we are doing something right.” When I asked Paul about his favorite circuit in the series? He replied, “It has to be Cadwell Park for all its twists and turns, ups and downs, but Oulton Park and Donington Park are special too... When you’re racing, they all have something to make you smile about.”