Rally Poland winner Mikko Hirvonen was delighted after his first test in the Ford Escort Mk2 he has had built.
The World Rally Championship leader has not decided when he will drive the car on a stage for the first time, but he admitted the preparation job done by Historic Rallysport surpassed all his expectations.
"The car was just fantastic," he said. "I can't even describe how much I enjoyed driving it and listening to the engine. In my career I drove a couple of events in a Mk2 Escort, but they only had two-liter Pinto engines, nothing like the BDA engine.
"I don't think there is any sound quite like the BDA. When I get home I think I'm going to be going to the garage and starting the engine just to listen to it."
Hirvonen did a handful of miles in his Rothman's-liveried car before heading to the airport to fly home. But he says he wants to be out in the Escort as soon as possible.
"Before I drove it, I said I wouldn't be taking it into the forests as I didn't want to spoil it," he said, "but now I just want to get straight back out in it. I can't wait to get to an event and see how it compares."
The car will travel to Hirvonen's Jyvaskyla home in one of the M-Sport trucks taking the works Ford Focus RS WRCs out for the next round of the WRC.