Last update: February 28, 2025
Ford has produced some very fine championship winning touring cars over the years. The space frame Zakspeed turbo cars have a place of their own in blog #004. In this topic I will show more conventional Escorts, Capris and Sierras in my collection.
Ford Cortina & Escort mk I
1965 European Touring Car Championship, Ford Cortina Lotus. Ford asked Lotus to improve the Cortina so it could be used for competition. Lotus tuned the engine, improved the chassis, lowered the weight and built a 1.000 cars, the first homologation special. Jim Clark and Sir John Whitmore drove the Alan Mann Racing cars and won lots of races in spectacular style with it. Whitmore won 4 events in 1965 and became European Touring Car Champion.
#27 Sir John Whitmore (GB) – 1st
Alan Mann Ford Cortina Lotus – 1.6 liter Ford straight-4, approx. 150 hp. Firestone tires. Weight 800 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown
- CORGI 96760 (diecast)
1968 British Saloon Car Championship, Ford Escort TC. The Ford Cortina Lotus was one of the first homologation specials, a car that was built in a small series with the intention to improve performance on the tracks. The successor of the Cortina was the Escort Twin Cam. Frank Gardner won the British championship with this Alan Mann prepared car.
#16 Frank Gardner (AUS) – 1st
Alan Mann Ford Escort 1600 Twin Cam – 1.6 liter Ford 3020E straight-4, approx. 150 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 750 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown
- ATLAS (diecast)
1971 BTCC Brands Hatch, Ford Escort RS 1600. The Ford Escort has been a successful racing car since its introduction in 1968. The improved version, the Broadspeed prepared RS 1600 made its debut in 1971 in the British Saloon Car Championship. John Fitzpatrick shattered the lap record and won the race in front of a 5-liter Camaro and the works entered Ford Capri driven by F1 pilot Gerry Birrell.
#114 John Fitzpatrick (GB) – 1st
Broadspeed Ford Escort RS 1600 – 1.7 liter Ford BDA straight-4, approximately 220 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 800 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown
- MINICHAMPS MC 400 718110 limited 750 pcs (diecast)
1971 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, Ford Escort RS 1600. Yvette Fontaine was famous in Belgian where she raced a lot with her Ford Escort. For the 24-hour race she got company from Dutch driver Han Akersloot. They were competitive, qualifying 16th overall, but had to retire with a broken driveshaft.
#51 Yvette Fontaine (B) / Han Akersloot (NL) – DNF
Ford Escort RS 1600 – 1.7 liter Ford BDA straight-4 16-valve, approx. 200 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 750 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown
- TROFÉU RE BE225 (diecast)
this model has been posted before in #030 BP
Ford Escort mk II
1975 Macau Guia Grand Prix, Ford Escort RS 1800. The Guia Grand Prix is an annual touring car race at the awesome street circuit of Macau, a former Portuguese colony in China. The race always attracts international presence, this year from the famous Zakspeed team. Hans Heyer started from pole position but didn’t finish, victory went to Nobuhide Tachi in a Toyota Celica.
#1 Hans Heyer (D) – DNF
Zakspeed Ford Escort RS 1800 – 2.0 liter Ford BDA straight-4, approx. 270 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 800 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown.
- TROFÉU RR AC17 (resin)
this model has been posted before in #063 Marlboro
1976 DRM Supersprint Nürburgring, Ford Escort RS 1800. The Escort RS ruled the 2-liter touringcars as the Alfa GTAm did before. The fast Zakspeed Escorts won almost every race in the 1976 DRM championship. Heyer took the championship his Castrol Escort. Hahne drove the 2nd Castrol car on two occasions and finished 7th at the Supersprint race.
#33 Armin Hahne (D) – 7th
Zakspeed Ford Escort RS 1800 – 2.0 liter Ford BDA straight-4, approximately. 275 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 800 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown
- MINICHAMPS MC 400 768833 limited 2160 pcs (diecast)
1976 DRM Supersprint Nürburgring, Ford Escort RS 1800. The fast Zakspeed Escorts won almost every race in the 1976 DRM championship. Heyer took the championship in front of Ludwig. Ludwig won three races this season among which the Supersprint race at the Nürburgring.
#32 Klaus Ludwig (D) – 1st
Zakspeed Ford Escort RS 1800 – 2.0 liter Ford BDA straight-4, approximately. 275 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 800 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown
- MINICHAMPS MC 400 768832 limited 2160 pcs (diecast)
1976 European Touring Car Championship, Monza 4h, Ford Escort RS 1800. The fast Zakspeed Escorts won almost every race in the 1976 DRM championship. In the European Touring Car Championship a different set of rules was used and the Escorts were less dominant here. This Zakspeed entered car didn’t make it the finish in the first race at Monza.
#27 Sigi Muller jr. (D) / Martini Finotto (I) – DNF / engine
Zakspeed Ford Escort RS 1800 – 1.8 liter Ford BDA straight-4, approx. 240 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 800 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown.
- NEO 45230 (resin)
1977 European Touring Car Championship Nürburgring 4h, Ford Escort RS 1800. Zakspeed was active in the DRM Championship of 1977 with their very fast group 5 cars. For the ETCC race they entered two group 2 Escorts in the same livery. Müller and Schommers retired, while Heyer and Hahne (who also drove in the DRM) with the #26 car finished 3rd and won their category.
#27 Sigi Muller jr. (D) / Werner Schommers (D) – DNF / crash
Zakspeed Ford Escort RS 1800 – 1.8 liter Ford BDA straight-4, approx. 240 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 800 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown.
- NEO 45231 (resin)
1977 DRM Championship, Ford Escort RS 1800. The DRM with the new group 5 touring cars was the most competitive series in Europe, especially Division II in which BMW and Ford had a season long battle. Hans Heyer in the Zakspeed Escort won the race at Mainz-Finthen (an airfield race track) and finished 4th in the championship. The title went to Stommelen who drove a Porsche in Division I where the competition was less severe.
#1 Hans Heyer (D) – 1st Mainz Finthen
Zakspeed Ford Escort RS1800 – 2.0 liter Ford BDA straight-4, approx. 295 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 770 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown.
- SPARK Raceland Specials RS1509 #059 / 350 pcs (resin)
1977 DRM Championship, Ford Escort RS 1800. The German DRM championship was open for group 5 cars in 1977. We saw historic battles between the BMW’s and Zakspeed Escorts. Dutchman Toine Hezemans drove an Escort also, this one was prepared by himself with support from GRAB but less competitive than the Zakspeed version. Even after they changed the aerodynamics, Toine didn’t manage better than a few 5th places. This is the version used at the 1st race in Belgian Zolder.
#10 Toine Hezemans (NL) – 6th Zolder
GRAB Ford Escort RS1800 – 2.0 liter Ford BDA straight-4, approx. 295 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 790 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown.
- REMEMBER 300 kit (resin)
1979 European Touring Car Championship Nürburgring 4h, Ford Escort RS 1800. Zakspeed was active in the European Touring Car Championship of 1979 with their very fast Escorts. Hans Heyer and Sigi Müller drove one of the cars, a second car was entered in a number of races. At Enna-Pergusa, in the middle of Sicily, the second car was driven by Niedzwiedz and Denzel but they had to retire with a broken engine.
#9 Klaus Niedziedz (D) / Jörg Denzel (D) – DNF / engine
Zakspeed Ford Escort RS1800 – 2.0 liter Ford BDA straight-4, approx. 260 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 820 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown.
- NEO 45232
Ford Capri RS
1972 Le Mans 24h, Ford Capri RS 2600. The works Capri’s did not only dominate the European Touringcar Championship, they also ran at Le Mans. They performed well en won the touring car / group 2 category, finishing 11th and 12th overall. The third works Capri retired.
#52 Dieter Glemser (D) / Alex Soler-Roig (E) – 11th / 2nd touring cars
#53 Hans J. Stuck (D) / Jochen Mass (D) – DNF
Ford Capri RS 2600 – 2.9 liter Ford Weslake V6 60º, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1000 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown
- TROFEU 2302 & 2303 (diecast)
1972 Zandvoort 4h, Ford Capri RS 2600. Nico Chiotakis was a regular contestant in the Dutch touring car championship. Of course, he also competed in the round of the European Championship at his home track. The bright green Capri finished 4th in a race that was won by the works Capri of Glemser, Mass and Soler-Roig.
#5 Nico Chiotakis (NL) / Claude Bourgoignie (B) / Bob van der Sluis (NL) DNS – 4th
Team 4711 Ford Capri RS 2600 – 2.9 liter Ford Weslake V6 60º, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1000 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown
- TROFEU RR NL03 limited 150 pcs (diecast)
1973 Rally de Monte Carlo, Ford Capri RS 2600. Schimpf has been co-pilot for many years and he takes the wheel himself in the 1973 Rally de Monte Carlo. The team didn’t make it to the finish; Klaus Fritzinger in another Capri crashed in the snowy conditions and blocked the road. Towing trucks and spectators came to help and no rally car was able to pass. Instead of neutralizing the stage, the organizer simply disqualified all 165 (!) cars that were stranded … including the Jägermeister Ford.
#206 Eckhardt Schimpf (D) / Ernst-Johann Zauner (D) – DSQ
- IXO RAC 269 (diecast)
1974 Zandvoort 4h, Ford Capri RS 3100. The Ford Capri of Mass and Stommelen won the ETC race at Zandvoort in the #4 car. Minichamps put their names on the #5 car, but that was driven by Hezemans and Glemser. These had pole position but a collision with a slower car set them back 5 laps. They finished 6th.
#5 Toine Hezemans (NL) / Dieter Glemser (D) – 6th
Ford Capri RS 3100 – 3.4 liter Ford Cosworth V6 60º, approx. 400 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown
- MINICHAMPS MC430 748005 (diecast)
1975 DRM Norisring, Ford Capri RS 3100. At the end of the 1974 season, Ford retired from Motorsport and archrival BMW went to the USA. Only for the most prestigeous race in the ’75 DRM Championship at the Norisring, the old rivals met again. Jochen Mass won with the old factory Capri. Peterson drove the BMW in the non-championship Trophy race and Stuck piloted in the DRM race but both retired with brake problems.
#31 Jochen Mass (D) – 1st
Ford Capri RS 3100 – 3.4 liter Ford Cosworth V6 60º, approx. 400 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown
- MINICHAMPS MC430 758031 (diecast)
Ford Capri III
1978 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, Ford Capri 3.0S. The European Touring Car Championship had its best years behind, manufacturers moved away and the grids became smaller. The new Group 1B, an improved version of the Group 1 standard saloon cars was gaining importance especially in Belgium. The Gordon Spice prepared Ford Capri 3.0S in the well known Belga colors won the 24 hours race at Spa-Francorchamps. BMW 530i finished 2nd and 3rd.
#27 Gordon Spice (GB) / Teddy Pilette (B)
Gordon Spice Ford Capri 3.0S – 3.0 liter Ford Weslake V6 60º, approx. 210 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 1150 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- PREMIUM-X PR008 (resin)
this model has been posted before in 061 Bastos & Belga
1980 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, Ford Capri 3.0S. The European Touring Car Championship for Group 2 cars had disappeared. This Group 1B for improved showroom cars had taken its place and did well. The usual rain at Spa-Francorchamps caused many cars to retire. It was the first 24 hour race at the new shortened track. In the end this Gordon Spice prepared Capri with the Martin brothers won just as in the previous year, but it had to battle all the way to the end with the Eddie Joosen BMW 530i.
#3 Jean-Michel Martin (B) / Philippe Martin (B) – 1st
Gordon Spice Ford Capri 3.0S – 3.0 liter Ford Weslake V6 60º, approx. 220 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1150 kg.Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- ALTAYA passion de la vitesse 5 (diecast)
this model has been posted before in 061 Bastos & Belga
Ford Sierra
1987 DTM, Ford Sierra XR4Ti. Group A was gaining popularity very fast. BMW. Jaguar, Rover and Volvo all had competitive cars but Ford didn’t. The Sierra XR4i was far too weak to be competitive. A solution was found in the USA where the Sierra was being sold as Merkur XR4Ti. The car had an old 8 valve Ford Pinto 4 cilinder engine, but with a large turbo! In 1987 Ford already introduced the faster 16-valve Cosworth Sierra, but Walter Mertes still used the XR4Ti in the German championship. He retired in the rain soaked race at Zolder.
#14 Walter Mertes (D) – DNF Zolder
Ringshausen Ford Sierra XR4Ti – 2.3 liter Ford Pinto straight-4 turbo, approx 370 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1135 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- NEO 44300 (resin)
1987 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, Ford Sierra Cosworth RS. The new 16-valve Ford Sierra Cosworth was the fastest car in Group A and in this year’s 24-hour race. The Texaco sponsored factory cars, Andy Rouse en Wolf Racing were all present with this super car. But Spa in the rain was BMW territory. Most Sierras retired and BMW M3 took the entire podium.
#4 Joachim Winkelhock (D) / Didier Artzet (F) / Manfred Burkhard (D)
Wolf Racing Ford Sierra RS – 2.0 Ford Cosworth straight-4 turbo, approx. 500 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1035 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- IXO GTM136 (diecast)
1988 British Touring Cars Brands Hatch, Ford Sierra Cosworth RS 500. Steve Soper raced the works Sierra in the European Touring Car Championship in 1988, but also competed in some rounds of the British Touring Car Championship. Local hero Andy Rouse prepares his own cars and they are at the same level as the Eggenberger prepared works car. The battle between Andy and Steve is a heroic one. Two 500+ hp cars on a slippery track, that have a fierce battle but respect each other. The video is a must see!
#6 Steve Soper (GB) – 2nd
Eggenberger Ford Sierra RS 500 – 2.0 Ford Cosworth straight-4 turbo, approx. 500 hp. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
#22 Andy Rouse (GB) – 1st
Rouse Ford Sierra RS 500 – 2.0 Ford Cosworth straight-4 turbo, approx. 500 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1035 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- TROFEU TRA me 02 special 2 model box #341 / 504 pcs (diecast)
1988 DTM Championship, Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth. Unlike the BTCC, in the DTM the turbo powered Ford Sierra Cosworth drove in the same category as the normally aspirated BMW and Mercedes. The engine power of the Fords was therefore restricted. Manuel Reuter finished 2nd in the championship in 1987 with this Ford, but 1988 wasn’t his year. Reuter’s best performance was 5th at Wunstorf where he finished behind 4 other Cosworths.
#5 Manuel Reuter (D) – 5th Wunstorf
Ringshausen Ford Sierra RS 500 – 2.0 Ford Cosworth straight-4 turbo, approx. 400 hp (restricted). Dunlop tires. Weight 1035 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- MINICHAMPS MC430 888005 (diecast)
1988 DTM Championship, Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth. Unlike the BTCC, in the DTM the turbo powered Ford Sierra Cosworth drove in the same category as the normally aspirated BMW and Mercedes. The engine power of the Fords was therefore restricted. Ford dominated the start of the season and however they were penalized even more, they still had the best package. Klaus Ludwig took the title in his GRAB Ford after he won the opening race and drove a very consistent season, scoring some 2nd spots and another victory at Wunstorf.
#18 Klaus Ludwig – 1st
GRAB Ford Sierra RS 500 – 2.0 Ford Cosworth straight-4 turbo, approx. 400 hp (restricted). Pirelli tires. Weight 1035 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- MINICHAMPS MC430 888018 limited 1680 pcs (diecast)
1988 DTM Championship, Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth. Team member of Ludwig at GRAB was a young Frank Biela. Biela took 3rd place in both races at Wunstorf and he finished 15th in the championship.
#25 Frank Biela – 15th
GRAB Ford Sierra RS 500 – 2.0 Ford Cosworth straight-4 turbo, approx. 400 hp (restricted). Pirelli tires. Weight 1035 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- MINICHAMPS MC430 888025 limited 1200 pcs (diecast)
1989 DTM Championship, Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth. Klaus Ludwig won the DTM title in 1988 in a Ford Sierra, he switched to AMG Mercedes for the new season. Armin Hahne remained at Ford and was one of the title candidates, he already finished 2nd at Hockenheim. At the Nürburgring things went wrong; Ludwig spun his Mercedes and came to a halt in the middle of the track. Most drivers could avoid him, but Hahne saw the obstacle too late and crashed right into it. He broke his leg and shoulder and thus ended his season.
#7 Armin Hanhe (D) – DNF
Wolf Ford Sierra RS 500 – 2.0 Ford Cosworth straight-4 turbo, approx. 400 hp (restricted). Michelin tires. Weight 1035 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- TROFEU SPE05 limited 499 pcs (diecast)
1989 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth. The Eggenberger Sierra’s won the World (1987) and European (1988) Championships for makes, but the 24 hour race at Francorchamps was won by BMW both years. In 1989, under good weather conditions, the Sierra’s with their powerful turbo engines were unbeatable.
#1 Gianfranco Brancatelli (I) / Win Percy (
GB) / Bernd Schneider (D) – 1st
Eggenberger Ford Sierra RS 500 – 2.0 Ford Cosworth straight-4 turbo, approx. 500 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1035 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- TROFÉU 011 (diecast)
this model has been posted before in 061 Bastos & Belga
1989 Macau Guia Grand Prix, Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth. Tim Harvey was in second position for most of the race. His mirrors were filled with the BMW M3 of Emanuele Pirro while team leader Andy Rouse was 10 seconds in front. In the final stages Rouse slowed down and Harvey managed to snatch the lead. A few corners later, Pirro tried to go round the outside of Rouse and crashed hard in the guard rail. Harvey won in front of Rouse. Pirro had to be taken to hospital but came back and finished 2nd in 1990 and managed to win the Guia race in 1991 in a BMW M3 E30.
#8 Tim Harvey (GB) – 1st
Rouse Ford Sierra RS 500 – 2.0 Ford Cosworth straight-4 turbo, approx. 500 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1035 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown.
- IXO MGPC 003 (diecast)
Ford Mustang
1984 DTM Championship, Ford Mustang GT. The format of DTM changed in 1993. In the years before the cars were homologated touring cars such as BMW M3, Mercedes 190E, Ford Sierra Cosworth, Audi V8 and many more recognizable cars. In 1993 DTM brought four wheel drive prototypes with V6 engines that were never available in a road going car. Fast and spectacular, but small grids in the first year. So ADAC allowed some dinosaurs to compete also. Three of these were the improved Ford Mustangs from the Ruch brothers and this one form Jürgen Feucht, which didn’t score a single point the entire 1994 season.
#13 Jürgen Feucht (D) – 25th championship
Challenger Team Ford Mustang GT – 5.0 liter Ford V8, approx. 540 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown
- MINICHAMPS MC430 948313 (diecast)
2019 Adelaide 500, Ford Mustang. Scott McLaughlin won the 2018 Australian V8 title in a DJR-Penske Ford Falcon. In 2019 a new generation cars was introduced and Ford switched to the 6th generation Mustang for this season. McLaughlin won both heats of the opening race in Adelaide and would take 16 more wins to retain his title.
#17 Scott McLaughlin (NZ) – 1st championship
DJR-Penske Ford Mustang – Ford 90º V8 injection – approx. 635 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1395 kg including driver. Steel space frame, chassisnr. unknown
- AUTHENTIC ACD43F19A (diecast)
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