One of the most significant Group A touring cars from the 1980s has come up for sale.
Fully restored by touring car experts CNC Motorsport AWS, it’s one of only two Merkur XR4Ti racers built by Eggenberger Motorsport.
Along with being a race winner in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC), the XR4Ti also paved the way for the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.
Before the Sierra RS Cosworth was developed to dominate Group A touring car racing, teams had noticed the potential of the North American Merkur XR4Ti.
A rebranded version of the Sierra XR4i, the Merkur replaced the Sierra’s 2.8-litre V6 with a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
In the UK, Andy Rouse used an XR4Ti to dominate the 1985 British Saloon Car Championship, then take a class title the following year.
The Merkur’s success would assist Ford in developing the Sierra, with various parts shared between the two cars.
In 1986, the Swiss Eggenberger Motorsport team became the official Ford works entry into the European Touring Car Championship. Eggenberger used a pair of XR4Ti cars, albeit wearing Ford badges instead of the American Merkur name.
The car listed for sale was driven by touring car legends Steve Soper and Klaus Niedzwiedz during the 1986 ETCC season. A third place at Hockenheim, followed by a seventh position in the Spa 24 Hours, was topped by a win at Estoril.
After the end of the ETCC season, the XR4Ti went to New Zealand to compete in the famed Wellington 500 street race. A later move saw it race in the Australian Touring Car Championship, and converted to Sierra RS500 specification.
Since returning to the UK, the XR4Ti has undergone a thorough restoration by CNC Motorsport AWS. The Gloucestershire-based company is responsible for building the reborn Andy Rouse-specification RS500s, ensuring the car has received expert attention.
This included a new roll cage made to 1986 specifications, plus a fresh 2.3-litre Merkur engine producing 340hp.
CNC Motorsport AWS has also installed correct Eggenberger Group A suspension, a rare Getrag ‘long’ bell housing, 17-inch BBS wheels and AP Racing brakes.
The car will be sold with an FIA Historic Technical Passport, making it eligible for high-profile classic motorsport competitions.
CNC Motorsport AWS has not listed a value for the XR4Ti, but notes that interested parties should take the prices of period Ford Sierra RS500s as a guide.
Before you start checking your bank account, a 1988 Ford Sierra RS500 driven by Andy Rouse in the BTCC sold for £170,000 in 2019. A similar BTCC-winning RS500 made £182,250 at auction in 2018.
Whoever does buy the XR4Ti will become the owner of an important piece of touring car history, and one that can hit the track again in historic motorsport.
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