The Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 is having a bit of a moment. Whether it’s the bonkers one-off Carbon Piranha restomod or the 8,000 km original that fetched nearly £600,000 at auction in 2023, this turbocharged legend is definitely back in the spotlight. And now, there’s even more reason to get excited: CNC Motorsport has completed the first of three continuation RS500 touring cars. Ready for the track? You bet.

This first car, built by Alan Strachan (an engineer who worked on the Team Labatts Sierra RS500 in the British Touring Car Championship) and his son Andrew, took two years to complete and is a faithful reproduction of the period-correct racers. At its heart is a monstrous 425 kW Cosworth YB engine paired with a Getrag five-speed manual gearbox. Turbo flutter? Oh yes, there’ll be plenty of that.

CNC didn’t stop at just the engine, either. They’ve meticulously recreated all the original machined parts, from the hubs and brake calipers to the uprights and rear arms. Even the fuel tank enclosure and roll cage follow the exact design of the original Rouse-built cars. And those classic dials? They’re all there too, making these RS500s eligible for historic race events across Europe.

“This project allowed us to build a reliable, period-correct car that’s competitive in historic motorsport, at a fraction of the cost of an original,” said Alan Strachan. “These cars are meant to be driven hard and raced without the worry of damaging a rare, original machine. The fans love seeing these flame-spitting RS500s on the edge, and they’re the ticket to a wide range of events.”

Car number two is already underway, built from an all-new body, and the shell for the third car has been sourced, with CNC ready to crack on with the final build soon.  

Looks like the RS500 revival is well and truly in full swing!