1990 FORD SIERRA RS500 GROUP A - BATHURST RECORD CAR

This Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth Group A is an incredible historic touring car, which broke the Bathurst lap record in 1990 in the hands of Australian Tony Longhurst. Having spent more than 20 years in the famous Bowden Collection, it was acquired by well-known enthusiast and racer Carey McMahon in 2015, and it has recently received a comprehensive body restoration and mechanical build by RS500 Group A specialist, Paul Linfoot Racing.

The last of five Sierra RS500s campaigned by Tony Longhurst Racing in period, this is the only car to have been built entirely in Australia, by the pairing of Frank Gardner and Jim Stone. It was purposely constructed in left-hand drive, as the target was to win at the Mount Panorama Circuit - an anticlockwise track, where LHD inherently helps with weight balance in corners.

Once complete, the builders reckoned this car to be probably the best Sierra RS500 chassis in Australia. Finished in the iconic yellow Benson & Hedges livery, it was tested at Amaroo Park, and then shipped to Bathurst in September for the Tooheys 1000 race. Longhurst made a storming start, and the Sierra’s pace was evidently seriously impressive. During qualifying this RS500 broke the Mount Panorama lap record, with Longhurst posting a time of 2 minutes 13.84 seconds - and hitting 180mph on the Conrod Straight.

Unfortunately, the performance in qualifying could not be repeated during the race, with the RS500 blighted by an engine fault that caused the team to retire after 53 laps. This RS500 competed in only a handful of other races with Longhurst, before it was sold on to Brian Bolwell in 1991, who continued to campaign it in the ATCC and at Bathurst twice. The Sierra was then acquired by the renowned Bowden Collection of historic road and race cars in 1994.

It spent more than 20 years residing in this incredible private collection, before David Bowden agreed to sell the car to Carey McMahon. Bowden was evidently convinced that he was the right person to add the next chapter to the car’s life, given his experience with racing and winning in a Nissan Skyline GTS-R, and having also owned the 1991 Bathurst-winning Skyline GT-R.

McMahon’s team subsequently gave the car a comprehensive inspection and mechanical rebuild over the course of eight weeks, going through every component set and ensuring that it was race-ready. It proved to be extremely competitive from the off, with McMahon qualifying in pole position at Phillip Island in March 2016, and scoring one win and a second place. In the overall 2016 Heritage Touring Car series, it came second, only beaten by an R32-generation Skyline GT-R. The car continued to race in 2017 and 2018, before McMahon decided to ship the Sierra to the UK for the 2019 season.

It made its European debut in the June 2019 HSCC Saloon Car Cup at Brands Hatch - finishing second in Race 2 - before contesting the AMOC Intermarque Championship at Oulton Park in July 2019, where the car was classified 11th overall. Later that month, it was raced in the Silverstone Classic, qualifying 10th in a 43-car grid for the Historic Touring Car Challenge.

At Spa-Francorchamps in September 2019, it qualified 5th out of 46 cars. McMahon took a gamble on starting on a wet track with slick tyres, believing the track would dry out. It almost worked. McMahon slid off the track on lap 1 and restarted in last place, but still finished 9th outright.

In November 2019, the car was transported to Portugal to appear in the Historic Touring Car Challenge race at Autodromo Internacional Algarve. While the RS500 qualified fifth and its pace looked promising, during the race it was involved in a crash that saw both flanks collide with two other cars in the field.

McMahon had the damaged car shipped back to renowned RS500 Group A specialist Paul Linfoot Racing in North Yorkshire, where the decision was made to completely restore the car. As it had been so original and pristine prior to the accident, McMahon wanted it to be put back to the same superb condition without cutting corners.

Rather than attempt to repair the damaged panels, Linfoot was able to source genuine original Ford body parts to replace both front wings, the doors, and the left rear quarter. The car was completely stripped down to the shell, taken back to the bare metal, and the new panels were fastidiously spot-welded to the original factory build specifications. It was then fully repainted inside and out using the correct colour-matched Benson & Hedges yellow. All of the livery graphics were meticulously reprinted and applied to the car.

Far from being just a cosmetic rejuvenation, all of the mechanical components were also thoroughly inspected, and rebuilt or refurbished as needed. The 2.0-litre turbocharged Cosworth engine was sent to Harvey Gibbs to be stripped and checked over, while a brand-new engine loom was commissioned from G&G Motorsport.

The gearbox and differential were dispatched to Bara Motorsports in Bromsgrove to be stripped and rebuilt as required, and the suspension was sent to Bilstein for inspection and refurbishment. All of the aluminium suspension components were disassembled and crack-tested, before being rebuilt with new bearings and seals. Suspension rose joints were also inspected and renewed as needed, and the radiator was sent for re-coring.

Fresh from its restoration and accompanied by original period documentation, up-to-date log books, plus an extra set of wheels and running spares, this Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth Group A is an astonishing example of a historic motorsport icon. Its provenance is well-documented, and it boasts not only record-setting history from its early racing life in 1990, but also an excellent competition record over the last five years. Having been meticulously rebuilt using original body parts, and with its running gear restored by some of the most highly regarded specialists, this RS500 genuinely wants for nothing. It would make a sensational addition to any collection, not to mention a superb historic motorsport competitor.

Specifications:

• ENGINE: 2.0-litre turbocharged Cosworth YB twin cam with 590hp
• GEARBOX: Five-speed Getrag Motorsport manual transmission
• BRAKES: Front AP Racing callipers and Rear Alcon callipers
• DIFFERENTIAL: Harrop 9-inch with spool centre
• WHEELS & TYRES: 17x9 with 240/640/17 tyres

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Please note: this Sierra RS500 Cosworth is currently in the UK under a temporary import Carnet (CPD). Should the car be purchased by a UK bidder and remain in the UK, the vendor will cover any duty and VAT costs as part of the sale agreement.