OpenTube

This Car Was Restricted. It Won Anyway, so they Banned it

automobilistic

499,192 views

The 80s were a time of bold moves for Ford. The 70s and early 80s had seen racing success in Europe for the Escort and Capri, on sturdy surfaces and loose ones too. But automotive tech was moving fast, and with Ford Europe’s rallying ambitions placed in the ill-fated RS-200, they needed to assemble a world beating car if they wanted a chance to carve out a place in Europe’s crowded tin-top scene. This is the story of the Ford Sierra RS500 and its rise to DTM glory.

This video only covers DTM!

Support us by becoming a channel member:
@automobilistic

Written by: Fred Knight
Edited by: JD Minny ( @jdminny )

Follow automobilistic on Instagram: Instagram: automobilistic_yt
Follow automobilistic on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/automobilist...
Follow automobilistic on X: https://x.com/_automobilistic
Join the automobilistic Discord: Discord: discord

Sources: https://drive.google.com/drive/folder...

20 Comments

@automobilistic Creator 1 year ago Pinned

Correction: the Sierra was not built in Germany, only the Merkur XR4Ti cars were (by Karmann).

They were built all over the place including the UK, but the primary factory was Genk, Belgium.

Apologies for the error!

@dochammer3047 1 year ago

That's awesome that South Africa built a Sierra with a V-8.

@IndaloMan 1 year ago

65yo now but back in the 80s/90s I was a Ford fan. In order I had 3.0 Capri, XR4i, 2wd Sapphire Cosworth, 4wd Sapphire Cosworth and small turbo Escort Cosworth. All three benefited from Brodie Britain Racing upgrades😎 Moved onto Volvo T5-R, V70R AWD and C70. Funny how in 2024 some ordinary cars from back then are now considered classics. #goodolddays

@SqueekyBums 1 year ago

6R4 Metro received similar treatment.

@danesorensen1775 1 year ago

You want to talk Sierras, talk about Dick Johnson Racing '87-'92.

@jamesgudgeon4868 1 year ago

They were Banned In Australia Too 15:07

@MrLaprius 1 year ago

Bathurst banned turbos, always seemed it was because Holden couldnt build one themselves and it was sour grapes...especially when Skylines just dominated!

@alpal482 1 year ago

I felt like I was watching a documentary from the Men&Motors days, great job.

@petezzzz 1 year ago

This wasn't racing, this was "Whaaa, I'm getting my ass kicked, let's punish the fast guy".
Same thing happened in Murica when the Audi's were spanking the Chevy's in TransAm.

@flacjacket 1 year ago (edited)

As a proud owner who wasn't born yet in the 3dr Cossies heyday I appreciate this content enormously. I hope you do more on these cars, IMO one of the coolest cars ever built.

Edit: also sib'd

@gnrsgl 1 year ago

Dude you're like a young jeremy clarkson with your great pronunciation and quality of video

@TufteMotorsport 1 year ago

RS500 dominated in Rallycross aswell. The team I am working for is restoring a genuine RS500 rallycross, it was ran untill 92 by Gunnar "Kitta" Kittelsen. You should look into that aswell.

@dude...are-you-sure 1 year ago

Thanks for the history on the race pedigree of the Sierra Cosworth. This was my dream car in my early teenage years. By the time i was able to buy a car the xr4ti were hard to find and even harder now. I guess this will be a forever dream car for me lol

@mandicristina06 1 year ago

I remembered the Cossworth as a cool rally car

@taylordudley3673 1 year ago

The Eggenberger works Sierras drive by Steve Soper and Klaus Ludvig were awesome. Also Shout out to Andy Rouses BTCC winning car in 88, with the modded boost lmao

@AmalgamationofMan 1 year ago

I've had 7 Xr4ti over the years . I love them but they are a challenge to own in many ways.

@UrbanTomfoolery 1 year ago (edited)

RS500 was also an absolute weapon in the hands of Dick Johnson and John Bowe in ATCC, also Peter Brock that one time

@Hydruss443 1 year ago

Arguably the GOAT touring car, it’s unbelievable dominance in touring car racing worldwide forced so many other companies to step up & get serious.

@rollingthunder9087 1 year ago

Growing up in Australia was only familiar with the Sierras used in touring car racing. Got a shock when I got to UK to hear them derided as repmobiles.