Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth – Widescreen gallery
Images: Marcel Hundscheid of Speed-O-Graphica
Spend some quality time getting to know the Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth thanks to this widescreen gallery by Marcel Hundscheid of Speed-O-Graphica.
Stuart Turner started the Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth project during the spring of 1983. Turner teamed up with Walter Hayes, vice president of Ford’s public relations department, who got famous as the driving force behind the development of the legendary Ford GT40. Along with Hayes, Turner decided to invite Ken Kohrs, vice president of development of the Cosworth company.
A new engine was developed by Cosworth using a twin cam 16 valve configuration, based on Ford’s T88 Pinto. To create a Group A winner, a turbocharged version was requested generating 180 hp for use on public roads and a more generous 300 hp in race configuration.
Turner decided in April 1983 to use the Sierra as a basis for the new project. After an extensive test programme a prototype was presented based on the Ford Sierra XR4i body. Initially the car didn’t get much by way of a positive response, and the look of the large rear wing seemed particularly controversial.
Despite the fact that car dealers estimated an average of just 1500 sold cars Hayes didn’t give up and worked hard to promote the car. By the time dealers were invited to test the car, enthusiasm increased. At the Geneva Motor Show in 1985 Ford presented the car to the public.
In the end the Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth gave Ford the 1987 World Touring Car Championship title. In August 1987 the car was homologated with larger turbo as well as a new rear deck spoiler.
Ford’s RS500 was highly succesful in Australia, where it dominated the 1988 and 1989 Australian Touring Car Championships with team owner Dick Johnson and John Bowe. The RS500 also appeared in rally events.
Pictured here in the Texaco livery is Jim McLoughlin’s RS500 used by the Eggenberger Team back in 1987 when they won the World Touring Car Championship in a car of this type.
