THE STORY OF THE… EGGENBERGER RS500S
When the new range of Sierras was introduced in 1982, no one gave much thought to their use in touring car racing. Until, that is, Stuart Turner returned as Ford-of-Europe’s director of motorsport, and showed Walter Hayes how the faithful old Capris were ageing.
Action followed at once. On a casual visit to Cosworth, where Ford top bosses were shown a new 16-valve head for use on the existing SOHC Pinto engine, the Sierra RS Cosworth project was born.
In the meantime, an American-spec car called the Merkur XR4Ti (based on European XR4i complete with bi-plane rear spoiler, but US-sourced 2.3-litre Lima engine from the Fox-body Mustang) would have to hold the fort. This new turbocharged 2.3-litre car was homologated in 1985, when the UK’s Andy Rouse and a Swiss-based team named after its founder, Ruedi Eggenberger, began to race the XR4Ti.
But it was only an interim measure, and the Sierras would grow faster and faster until they reached the point where no other cars on the grid could match them for performance or pace, and the organisers were forced (by consistent complaints from rival competitors) to change the rules to outlaw them from competition.
But, let’s start at the begging and embark on journey of highs and lows, joy and sorrow, as we look back at
