DUNTON, UK – With the 2026 Winter Olympics kicking off in Italy this week, we’ve trawled through the video archive to bring you this remarkable clip featuring Ford Cortinas tackling an Olympic bobsleigh run back in 1964.
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Video: When Ford’s Cortina Tackled an Olympic Bobsleigh Run
Feb 05, 2026
Filmed at the world-famous Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Italian Dolomites, scene of the 1956 Winter Olympics, it shows Ford Cortina Mk1s being driven down the run by famous racing stars of the day including Jim Clark (Formula 1 world champion) , David Seigle-Morris, Vic Elford, Gilbert Staepelaere (Belgian Rally legend) , Peter Hughes (Safari Rally winner), Sir John Whitmore, Henry Taylor, Jack Sears, Bo Ljungfeldt and Trond Schea (Norwegian Rally Champion).
In it, the cars hit speeds in excess of 50 mph (almost 100 km/h) despite having less than six inches (15 cm) of clearance in places. Click the link for both in-car and external shots of the Cortinas in action.
The track that was used for the 1956 Winter Olympics was 1,720 metres long with 16 turns and an elevation drop of 152 metres.
It also memorably featured in the 1981 James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only.
Ford Cortinas tackling an Olympic bobsleigh run back in 1964.