CNC Motorsport AWS Ford Sierra RS500 Continuation

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ford was one of the most successful brands in touring car racing with the Sierra RS500. The car competed against BMW M3s and Mercedes-Benz 190 Es in the ETCC, DTM and BTCC, for example, starting in 1987. Compared to the normal Sierra RS Cosworth, the RS500 received a larger Garrett turbocharger, a bigger intercooler, different injectors, a modified cooling system and a second fuel line from the tank to the engine. On the bodywork, a new front spoiler lip and a slightly modified rear wing were used. Instead of the fog lights, air intakes were added to the vehicle to improve cooling of the front brakes. For homologation purposes, 500 road cars were built. 909 Motorsport built the race cars on the basis of bodyshells with integrated rollcages. In the BTCC alone, the Sierra won 40 races, making it the most successful car there.

At CNC Motorsport AWS in the UK, three Sierra RS500 continuation cars are being built to Group A regulations in conjunction with Andy Rouse Engineering. Four-time BTCC champion Andy Rouse founded his own racing team back in 1981, winning three titles with three different cars together with his team. Together with Ford, he then made the Sierra a series winner before introducing Super Touring Car regulations in the BTCC. Alan Strachan, who now runs CNC Motorsport AWS, was already working in his team at the time. The company now builds period-correct touring car replicas, such as Sierra RSs, Merkur XR4TIs or Rover SD1s. With Rouse’s expertise, three examples of the Sierra RS500 are now being built, all of which are based on 909 bodyshells stored at the end of the 1980s. Under the hood sits a Cosworth turbocharged engine, freshly manufactured by Vic Drake, producing around 575 hp. The price for each car is £ 185,000.

Images: CNC Motorsport AWS