Model: Greenlight 1995 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Release: Running on Empty Series 12
eBay link: Greenlight Escort Cosworth STP
Why I’m featuring it: The new Greenlight Escort RS Cosworth casting from the Hot Hatches series was one of my favourite releases of 2020 – and one of the most surprising. But this new STP version, from Series 12 of the popular Running on Empty line of oil and gas-themed models, makes those initial releases look predictable!
Running on Empty is often the preserve of older American iron and in this series, the Cossie is the youngest vehicle on show, by 27 years.
All the more remarkable is that the colourful STP livery it is based on a real car. , I had to look it up, but this is Nick Jones’s rallycross machine that won the Showroom (Group N) class of the 1994 British Rallycross Championship. He also took a class win in the British round of the European championship that year.
The familiar blue-and-red colour scheme looks stunning on the Escort and full marks to Greenlight for originality. It’s a shame it has a production car interior, but I can live with it, especially with those fantastic wheels.
Here it is alongside one of the debut issues from Hot Hatches, the Juha Kankkunen WRC car…
… and with a Matchbox Escort RS Cosworth. This one was in the Racing 5-pack in 1997.
Looking ahead, we can be sure that Greenlight is nowhere near done with its Cosworth casting. Look out for a Texaco Escort in Running on Empty Series 13!
(find Greenlight Escort Cosworth STP on eBay)
(follow me on Instagram @diecast215)