24.1 C
Mount Panorama
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsBATHURST RECORD-SETTING SIERRA ON THE MARKET

BATHURST RECORD-SETTING SIERRA ON THE MARKET

THE Ford Sierra that Tony Longhurst used to set a new unofficial lap record at Mount Panorama in 1990 has been placed up for sale.

The fifth and final turbocharged Ford to be built or raced by Longhurst’s Benson & Hedges-backed operation, its primary claim to fame was the stunning lap laid down by the Queenslander in qualifying for the 1990 Tooheys 1000.

If you’re a V8 Sleuth Garage subscriber, click here for the car’s full history.

Aided by freshly-resurfaced tarmac, Longhurst cut almost two full seconds off Peter Brock’s pole position time from the previous year with a 2m13.84s lap.

At the time, it was the fastest lap for a touring car around Mount Panorama in any configuration – it was 0.01s faster that George Fury’s pole-winning time from 1984 prior to the addition of the Chase for the 1987 race.

In a twist of fate, Longhurst’s teammate Alan Jones equalled the record aboard the team’s #20 Sierra in a later qualifying session.

Longhurst retired the car before the end of his first stint; Formula Holden star and engine builder Mark McLaughlin was listed as the co-driver, but it was expected that Alan Jones would join Longhurst in #25 after finishing his opening stint in #20. Pic: an1images.com / Graeme Neander

However, mechanical problems took both cars out before the halfway mark of the race.

Finished after the Australian Touring Car Championship was completed in 1990, this Sierra only did four race meetings with Longhurst’s team before selling its entire stock of turbo Fords ahead of a switch to BMW M3s for 1991.

The car raced on in period before joining the Bowden collection in the mid-1990s.

Carey McMahon purchased the car in recent years and has campaigned it in historic Group A touring car racing both in Australia and overseas.

The car is currently in England and is almost at the end of a meticulous rebuild following an accident at a race meeting in Portugal last year.

The advertised price of GBP250,000 (roughly AU$451,000) includes spare wheels and a few running spares.

Click HERE to see the listing in the RS500 Owners Facebook Group.

Want to read more?

Subscribe to V8 Sleuth to receive regular updates of news and products delivered straight to you.



Latest News