The outfit tried to make the step up in 1997. Malcolm Wilsson took over the Ford Motorsport structure and attempted the transformation into a title-winning team.
The campaign began with high expectations, despite the limits of the machinery available and a concerning lack of engine power. However, two second places at the Monte Carlo and Sweden Rallies did not seem like a bad start to proceedings.
After the initial promise, consecutive retirements at the Safari and Portugal Rallies, followed by a bad performance at the Spain-Catalonia event, brought the team back down to earth. Halfway through the campaign, things turned back around and there was a second place in Corsica and first win of the season in Greece to celebrate.
The chances of winning the title slowly faded, with a retirement at the Finland Rally a particular blow. A win in Indonesia closed things back up, with the penultimate round in Australia up next.
In that event, mechanical issues again blighted the day. A retirement all but ruled out glory at the end of the season, and Repsol would announce that they would pull out of Rally competition for the first time since 1967. Despite the discreet end, Repsol and Carlos Sainz remain greats in the history of the WRC.
