Michael Ward’s first rally in 1977 was something to forget. In a basically standard Mini and with a novice navigator, they placed last by a LONG WAY. So he “retired” until he could compete in something approaching a prepared car.

In the late 1970s he was able to use his “daily driver”, a KE20 Toyota Corolla with marginally beefed up suspension, half cage and 4 point harnesses. After running a few events on road tyres, he even managed to run some mud and snow tyres and was able to afford another road car, allowing for this to be a full-time rally machine. This car met its end buried in a large tree somewhere in the Daylesford/Trentham area after understeering off a wet greasy road. Not much was salvageable apart from the brand new Cibie Super Oscars!