Andy Rouse’s BTCC Ford Sierra RS500 reborn

By Lizzie Pope
News
 | 28 Oct 2021
Classic & Sports Car – Andy Rouse’s BTCC Ford Sierra R500 reborn

Three continuation Ford Sierra RS500 Group A Touring Cars are being built, to 1990 Andy Rouse Engineering specification.

Rouse won the British Touring Car Championship in 1975, 1983, 1984 and 1985, and established Andy Rouse Engineering (ARE) in 1981 which prepared the cars for his ’80s triumphs.

CNC Motorsport AWS is going to build three ARE-spec, Group A RS500 racing cars, which will be eligible for classic motorsport including with the Historic Sports Car Club and Motoring Racing Legends, and at The Classic at Silverstone.

Prices start at a not-insignificant £185,000.

Classic & Sports Car – Andy Rouse’s BTCC Ford Sierra R500 reborn

© Jakob Ebrey Photography

The starting point for all three of the cars will be an original Ford Sierra bodyshell, each built up to a design agreed by Rouse.

The first of these racers is particularly special because, as in period, it is based on a brand-new ‘909’ Motorsport shell that’s been unused and stored since the ’80s – it will be finished in early 2022.

Power will come from a Cosworth YB motor with 575bhp, developed in collaboration with original ARE engine builder Vic Drake, who in period produced more than 100 RS500 engines. This will be mated to a Getrag five-speed gearbox.

Each with be sold race-ready, with HTP papers, fuel cell and roll cage certificates, and finished in white, with options for liveries.

Classic & Sports Car – Andy Rouse’s BTCC Ford Sierra R500 reborn
Classic & Sports Car – Andy Rouse’s BTCC Ford Sierra R500 reborn

CNC Motorsport AWS has access to the necessary drawings and data, meaning it will be reproducing ’80s Rouse-specific components, including the side-exiting exhaust, suspension uprights, heated ’screen and fuel tank enclosure.

The company has form in doing such work, being well-established as a builder and restorer of classic Touring Cars.

A period-spec Group A Rover SD1 and Merkur XR4TI are two of the cars to have come out of the Gloucestershire workshop in the past two years. 

The firm was founded by Alan Strachan, who worked for Rouse in period at the peak of the RS500’s dominance.

Classic & Sports Car – Andy Rouse’s BTCC Ford Sierra R500 reborn

“The RS500 was lots of fun and of all the cars I raced the Kaliber RS500 is the one I wish I still had today,” said Rouse.

“When Alan told me he had acquired a brand-new bodyshell, we came up with the idea to build correct continuation cars just as they would have been in our Binley workshop.

“Having seen Alan develop his own engineering business, he was the only person I trusted to build cars that would carry the ARE build plate.”

“Demand for competitive Group A machines is rising, enabling access to some of the best motorsport events around the globe for correct cars,” added Strachan.

“The cars will be built and signed off by Andy, just as we did in period, with the provenance that can only come from the man who engineered and drove the cars to such success.”

To find out more email info@cncmotorsport.com.

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