The news of the death this month of international rally driver, Andrew Cowan, will strike a chord with those of us old enough to remember one of Scotland’s favourite sons.
Cowan, who died at the age of 82, had a strong affinity with Australia thanks to his incredible succession of wins which dated back to 1968 when he won the first (and toughest) London – Sydney Marathon in a Hillman Hunter.
Although he is renowned for that Marathon win, which covered around 15,000 kilometres, he was no stranger to short sprint-style events, an example of this being the Southern Cross International Rally, which he won for the fifth time (four in succession) from 1970 to 1975.
The son of a Scottish Borders’ farming family, Cowan entered motorsport thanks to a friendship with Formula One ace Jim Clark, who tried to introduce him to motor racing, but with little success.
Despite some early minor motor racing results, Cowan eventually chose rallying because it was much more affordable.
As was the path of so many young drivers in that period, the Scot entered many club rallies in a wide range of vehicles, which in his case included Sunbeam Tiger V8, Mini, Cortina and various Rootes Group cars such as Sunbeam Rapier and Hillman Imp.
Andrew Cowan was a much loved figure in world rallying.
Having displayed his driving ability, Cowan was finally approached and signed by Rootes and became one of their most successful drivers, particularly in many European events.
When Rootes finally gave rallying away, Cowan was approached by the Japanese Mitsubishi organization who head-hunted him to drive one of their new Lancer GSRs in the 1972 Southern Cross.
Success followed success and Cowan took the new car to victory as their lead driver in the 1972, 73, 74 and 75 events, teaming with navigators such as John Bryson, Fred Gocentas and Gary Connelly.
The diminutive Lancers swept all before them, thanks to the combination of exceptionally well-prepared cars and crews, with the Japanese manufacturer making an enormous amount of publicity in Japan and elsewhere.
Those of us who can remember the iconic GSR Lancers sweeping all before them in those halcyon days in the 1970s will recall the sight of the amiable, smiling Scot at the wheel of the record-breaking Lancers.
It was a period that many of us will never forget.
Andrew Cowan is no longer with us, but his legacy will remain whenever and wherever star drivers and iconic events are mentioned. We say thanks for the memories, Andrew.
Photos: Martin Holmes, RallySport Magazine archives
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