Group A Ford Sierra RS500

[martinlabatts]

wolf tells me they beleive,

its a 1987 xr4ti convered by wolf to rs500 spec and race by Armin Hahne
does anyone have any info on the WOLF xr4ti sierras

martin

[Jesper OH]

Unfortunately not, but I'm sure they ran as many as three XR4Tis on occasion during the 1986 and 1987 DTM seasons. So, something to choose from.

Jesper

[brown dog]

Originally Posted by martinlabatts

wolf tells me they beleive,

its a 1987 xr4ti convered by wolf to rs500 spec and race by Armin Hahne
does anyone have any info on the WOLF xr4ti sierras

martin

Hi Martin,

which Wolf car are you referring to here?
Interestingly (to me anyway) I noticed the Peanut Slab Wolf RS500 here in NZ had the same fabricated coolant header tank as pretty much every "works" supported XR4Ti I have seen pictures of, including the Grab, Eggenberger, Ringhausen cars. This was unlike any RS500 header tank I have seen, maybe coincidence, maybe not?

BTW, slightly OT, do you know what happened to the 1985 Andy Rouse BTCC championship winning car?

Conrad

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by brown dog

Hi Martin,

BTW, slightly OT, do you know what happened to the 1985 Andy Rouse BTCC championship winning car?

Conrad

That was the car that Dave Oxton bought I think not sure what happened to it after that!

[martinlabatts]

from whot i have found so far,

wolf converted the 87 TI to full rs500 spec as soon as they could,

with new rear quarters and all panles ect,

makes identifing cars much harder,

[T-Man]

Originally Posted by chunterer

That was the car that Dave Oxton bought I think not sure what happened to it after that!

after David Oxton ran it in the 1986 ATCC season it went to Robbie Francevic for the Enduros, still remaining the main Rouse colours. Afterwards he took it to NZ for the B&H Series running the car in a quite colourful Visionhire livery. Andrew Miedecke leased the car for the early 1987 Wellington 500 race and had sponsorship by his hometown Port MacQuarie. I think it was converted to RS500 spec at some point afterwards.

hi, all
can anyone help me with some more info
on Wolf sierra RS500 race cars 87/88
chassie numbers ect,
doing some digging into these cars and there is not much available as yet.
thanks and keep this interesting thread going.

Here is what i puzzled together from the various entry lists.

Wolf ran 2 XR4Ti's for the 1985 season, still under their old HWRT name. Drivers were Klaus Niedzwiedz and Manuel Reuter, both cars were plain white.

For 1986 Wolf continued their 2 car programme in the DTM with Harald Grohs and Klaus Niedzwiedz. Niedzwiedz had a Liqui Moly sponsored car, while Grohs drove the Rudy Billen one, which also made several outings in the ETCC co-driven by Romain Feitler and others.
The Oppitzhauser ETCC car had a couple of HWRT logos on it during the early season, so this could very well be one of the 1985 cars.

In 1987 things get more complicated. Wolf now entering under the Wolf Racing name has 2 XR4Ti's in the DTM grid. One for Joachim Winkelhock and one for Frank Biela. Winkelhock was sponsored by Castrol and Biela by Autoszene/TS Union. Klaus Niedzwiedz ran Bielas car in the "Großer Preis der Tourenwagen" at the Nürburgring GP Track, with additional Sonax sponsoring.
For the 9th of 10 races Winkelhock drove a Barclays sponsored Sierra in RS trim, one of the 2 cars that ran in the 24h Spa race a week before.
In the final race of the season at the Salzburgring Wolf returned with a proper RS500 in the known Würth colours for Armin Hahne which blew away the competition. More interestingly, the 2nd car in that race was an old XR4Ti raced by Steve Soper!

1988 Wolf had most likely 3 cars. One driven by Armin Hahne in the DTM, a second that was entered for the ETCC races driven by Hahne/Allam and a possible third car driven by Herbert Drexler at at least one race, maybe even attempting to qualify for others. (The DTM Yearbooks aren't that accurate in the early years)

In 1989 Wolf started with only one car for Armin Hahne. After his horrendous crash with Ludwig at the Nürburgring (that one must have been a write-off) Jeff Allam failed to qualify at Mainz-Finthen. Alain Ferté then took over and had a bunch of great results including wins at the Nordschleife and the Norisring. Having recovered from his crash Hahne returned for the second to last race leaving Ferté without a drive that race. Hahne then had a Biking accident and Ferté was in the car again for the final race of the season.

In 1990 the DTM banned the Turbo engines and Wolf stepped down and entered a couple of Group N Sierra Sapphires in the DTT/DTC.

In the 1991 Nürburgring 24h race there was at least 1 proper RS500 entered by Wolf and driven by the former youngsters Schneider/Bartels/Reuter.

[Andy Clegg]

I hope that this is of interest. It's the 1986 Tourist Trophy at Silverstone. This is entered by Ford Rennsport-HWRT Tuning. The original drivers were Harald Grohs, Romain Feitler and Joachim Winkelhock. I amended to Harald Grohs and Tiff Needell. Ford Sierra XR4TI.

[KA]

Just been looking around the net for pics from the Silverstone Classic a few weeks back- interesting to see which RS500s were there:

#3 Paul Smith- Rouse Labatt's car, 1990- Tim Harvey's car according to the race number and name on the front wing- Is this the car that went to Australia a couple of years back?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richebe...57630700189130

#6 Dave Brodie- presumably his 1989/90 car?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2837212...57630727680326
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2837212...57630727680326

#9 Simon Garrad- Ringhausen DTM car, ex-Reuter
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richebe...7630700189130/

#15 Craig Davies- the Chris Hodgetts Brooklyn car from 1988/9
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richebetspics/7663971708/

#19 Graham Waite- yellow car, though the 'CAM Shipping' sunstrip suggests the Laurence Bristow CAM car from 1988- IIRC I saw this car displayed at Brands a year or so back, with an information board outlining it's history as the Bristow car
http://www.flickr.com/photos/si558/7...ool-834857@N23

#7 Ian Donaldson. (on the entry list, but didn't race, though it was evidently in the pits) White car with ICOM sponsorship and some Chinese writing on the door- http://www.flickr.com/photos/2837212...57630727680326
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2837212...57630727680326
This seems to be the one that Oakfields have been advertising for a while, described as an ex-Brodie car. They've updated their advert at some point to give a full history of the car, as follows:

• Built in Hong Kong by Dave Brodie's crew prior to the 1988 Macau race- raced by Brodie to 6th place.
• Sold to Eddie Lee
• Returned to BBR in the UK for preparation- tested at Goodwood
• Raced by Lee at Macau in 1989- spun out and rejoined, then crashed later- DNF.
• Went on to be raced in Malaysia by Lee, who also had a Rouse RS500.
• Lee crashed his Rouse car in Malaysia, and a lot of the Rouse parts went into the BBR shell.
• Sold to David Wong
• Sold to Graham Hathaway around 1993- returned to the UK
• Two subsequent UK owners, one of whom used it for trackdays in the early 2000s.

http://www.oakfields.com/html/showro...0059&dlr=10001

Also present, though on display rather than racing, a Brock/Mobil car, and a Dick Johnson car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/retroca...57630742652086
http://www.flickr.com/photos/retroca...57630742652086
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richebetspics/7668031140/

[PAUL S]

It was a great weekend for RS500 fans to see the old girls chasing each other again. I was there with my road 500 on the owners stand and over the 2 days we had about 18 cars on display.

The Brooklyn 500 was the most sorted racer and kept pace with the supertourers up front which look like they were glued to the track in comparison.

The BBR car broke its Harrop diff on the way to the event whilst testing on the local dual carriageway on trade plates and they didnt have enough spare parts to properly repair, so it was off the pace, the oakfields BBR/Rouse had oil breather issues so was pulled. Its is the same car they have for sale, just now stickered up.

To answer the questions above, yes thats the Harvey Rouse that went to Aus and now back in the UK, its Bristow sister car has now been converted back to group A spec from its thundersaloon shape but not been spied out yet.

The yellow car is indeed the cam shipping ex Bristow car.

The Mobil Brock and DJR cars are stunning, and the owners dont want to risk them out in competition.

The Brock car though was back at Silverstone this weekend out on track at Ford Fair along with the Yellow Cam shipping car.

Lets hope for an even bigger field next year, I was surprised Graham Goode and Mike Newman were not present in there cars at the classic

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by PAUL S

It was a great weekend for RS500 fans to see the old girls chasing each other again. I was there with my road 500 on the owners stand and over the 2 days we had about 18 cars on display.

Lets hope for an even bigger field next year, I was surprised Graham Goode and Mike Newman were not present in there cars at the classic

Yes with you on that, lovely to see the cars in such original condition. It was funny seeing Brode out on track with a load of 60's sports on the Friday!

I think messrs Goode and Newman are keeping a watching brief on both this and the JD Classics series but whether they can be tempted out is another thing.

[Buildtech]

Excellent thread: good to hear what is happening to some of these amazing cars as they survive today. I, like many others had the awesome experience of watching the RS500's race in their heyday and being a keen lensman recorded many occasions when the sheer spectacle they provided drew huge crowds to the circuits around the UK and Europe. Anyway less of the pomp and circumstance; as there have been some links to my photos previously on this thread, I thought a few more might be of interest:-

Andy Rouse at Brands Hatch 1988 and Chris Hodgetts in the Brooklyn Motorsport car also pictured at Brands Hatch in 1988. This one was at Silverstone for the 2012 Classic. Graham Hathaway's car pictured at Silverstone: does anyone know what happened to this particular RS500?

[Buildtech]

Sorry everyone for the quality of the Rouse and Hodgetts photos: my error in resizing and the upload to the thread. Need a little more practice with my posting.

[Capri Carl]

Hi Buildtech, Do you have any pics of the Terry Drury Racing RS500's from 1988 and 1989, Drivers:1988 Harvey, 1989 O,Brien, Pinkney and Donovan.

I have the Donovan TDR Sierra RS500 in Melbourne(Aus) that I am restoring, They were a bit underphotographed!
I want to get the livery correct.

Cheers, Carl

[Jesper OH]

Thanks to Buildtech I now know that the Brooklyn RS500 had a different livery on it's 1988 debut compared to '89 - Mr. Tomkinson vs. Shell/Brooklyn.

Jesper

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Thanks to Buildtech I now know that the Brooklyn RS500 had a different livery on it's 1988 debut compared to '89 - Mr. Tomkinson vs. Shell/Brooklyn.

Jesper

At the time Mr Tomkinson Carpets were also sponsoring the (pink!) Group Sierra Cosworth built & run by Brooklyn, driven by Phil Collins.

[Buildtech]

Thanks - I have two shots of the TDR RS500 No 17 Mike O'Brien which I took at Snetterton in 1989. Unfortunately they may not give you such a good view of the livery as hoped. I will search a couple of shots of Pinkney's RS500, but no luck with the Donovan car: sorry.

Let me know what you think.

[Buildtech]

Here is another post of the Chris Hodgetts RS500 - the quality is better if you are interested in the livery. Thanks.

[Jesper OH]

Thank you for the re-post of the Brooklyn RS500, Buildtech.

Being at Brands Hatch 1988, this would have been for round 10 of the BTCC held on August 21 and should be the debut of the car. CH qualified 5th to finish 7th.

Jesper

[chunterer]

I think the Carpet livery was in 1989? I thought that the '88 car was just in Brooklyn & shell stickers?

Actually maybe the carpet sponsors came on board in advance of the '88 Birmingham race which was local to sponsor team and driver?

[PAUL S]

Here is a pic of the brooklyn 500 without either type of stickers.

[Capri Carl]

Originally Posted by Buildtech

Thanks - I have two shots of the TDR RS500 No 17 Mike O'Brien which I took at Snetterton in 1989. Unfortunately they may not give you such a good view of the livery as hoped. I will search a couple of shots of Pinkney's RS500, but no luck with the Donovan car: sorry.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks Buildtech, they look good, but as you say, not much detail to be seen. It seems they were always in the background of other cars photographed.
Look forward to see the Pinkney ones when you find them.

Cheers, Carl

[Buildtech]

Originally Posted by PAUL S

Here is a pic of the brooklyn 500 without either type of stickers.

This photo looks like 1989 with the Labatts Bristow car and the black Listerine livered RS500's in the background.

[Buildtech]

Originally Posted by Capri Carl

Thanks Buildtech, they look good, but as you say, not much detail to be seen. It seems they were always in the background of other cars photographed.
Look forward to see the Pinkney ones when you find them.

Cheers, Carl

Yeah sorry; looking back now I wish I had taken more of the whole field rather than concentrating on the front runners at most meetings. It was different when you had just a couple of 36 exposure films to last the whole meeting and then had to pay for developing. Now the skys the limit with digital: I wonder if punters will be discussing the likes of Jason Brights Commodore or Jason Plato's MG livery with the same interest in 15 years time?

[Jesper OH]

Originally Posted by Buildtech

I wonder if punters will be discussing the likes of Jason Brights Commodore or Jason Plato's MG livery with the same interest in 15 years time?

Probably they will, but different people will do. They might also discuss weather the 1:1 holistic 3-d g-force feeling of their multipurpose play chair of said drivers and cars, can be right..

The 1989 picture of the Brooklyn car is what I refer to as the Shell/Brooklyn car, realising now they didn't realy have a main sponsor, except for themselves.

Jesper

[KA]

Originally Posted by chunterer

I think the Carpet livery was in 1989? I thought that the '88 car was just in Brooklyn & shell stickers?

Actually maybe the carpet sponsors came on board in advance of the '88 Birmingham race which was local to sponsor team and driver?

Pretty sure the Tomkinson money was on board for all of the 1988 appearances- the car didn't debut until late in the season after Chris H split with the MIL Supra programme- IIRC the debut was Brands as suggested earlier by Buildtech's pic. I think it was also on the entry list for the TT, but didn't show and CH raced one of his Corollas instead, then saw out the remaining BTCC rounds.

As I remember the best showing was at Donington where he managed to get between Rouse and Soper at the start and was running 2nd for the early laps, before finishing 3rd behind the Kaliber and Eggenberger cars.