September 26, 2023

Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 Going To Auction

A very special Ford Sierra Cosworth is going up for sale at an auction hosted by Iconic Auctioneers at the NEC Classic Motor Show on 11th November.

Initially used as a Ford press and promotional vehicle, this fantastic car has had only one private owner since then, and it has covered just 12,530 miles over its lifetime. This will be the first time the car has been available for sale (and out of storage) in nearly 34 years.

1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500

With a known history for every day of its existence, this special Sierra Cosworth (D64 XVX) has a guide price of £100,000 – £140,000.

On April 22, 1987, it was sent to Aston Martin Tickford Limited and underwent a transformation from a Sierra Cosworth into a fully-fledged RS500 by the time it left on June 23, 1987. This particular example is believed to be the 13th RS500 produced. Immediately after leaving Aston Martin, it was registered for road use by its first owner, the Ford Motor Company of Eagle Way in Brentford. It remained in Ford’s ownership for a year and was employed as a press and promotional vehicle, as evidenced by its feature in What Car magazine’s September 1987 issue, titled ‘Ford’s 500.’ A copy of this magazine will accompany the vehicle.

Once its duties with Ford were fulfilled, the Sierra changed hands and was acquired by its second and current owner on June 1, 1988. Originally intended to be used for promotional purposes once more, the actual fate of the car took a different turn due to work commitments. Around a year after its current owner got the car, it was placed into storage. It was lifted onto stands, its wheels removed, and protective covers were placed over it. Since then, it has remained in this state, untouched, until now.


A Lost Car, Found

In the extremely knowledgeable RS500 community, the car was believed to have vanished many years ago. Numerous attempts were made over the years to locate it, all without success. However, as interest in these rare 1980s homologation specials surged, the owner decided to find a new caretaker for this Sierra, which has seen the light of day for the first time in decades.

After reinstalling its wheels and removing the covers, the Sierra emerged from its long-term garage confinement, and almost immediately had a photo shoot ready for the auction. As you can see from the photos, its external and internal condition is nothing short of exceptional, showing no obvious signs of deterioration. It stands as a remarkable and exemplary example, boasting an incredibly low and verified mileage of just 12,530 from new.


After careful consideration, the decision has been made, by its current owner, to offer ‘D64 XVX’ exactly as it emerged from storage after more than three decades, without any attempts to start, run, or alter the vehicle in any way.

It’s worth noting that if the new owner wants to get the car back out on the road, it will need to undergo a full recommissioning.

Jessica Hawkins Test Drives AMF1 Team Car

Jessica Hawkins, the Driver Ambassador for the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team (AMF1 Team), recently became the first woman in almost five years to drive a Formula 1 car as she test-drove the team’s car at the Hungaroring in Hungary.

A prominent figure in motorsport, Jessica Hawkins, who is 28 years old and boasts a W Series podium finish and a British Karting Championship, initially joined the AMF1 Team in 2021 in the role of Driver Ambassador. Her involvement with the team expanded over time, with Jessica commencing preparatory simulator work at the team’s Silverstone facility in 2022 in anticipation of her debut Formula 1 test.

This drive meant that Jessica achieved a lifelong dream, becoming the first woman to drive a Formula 1 car since 2018. She completed multiple sessions behind the wheel of the AMR21, sharing driving duties with the team’s Test and Reserve Driver, Felipe Drugovich.

Jessica’s successful test outing marks an important point in her partnership with the AMF1 Team, providing valuable insights as she gears up to support the team’s entry into the all-female F1 Academy series set for 2024.


Jessica Hawkins said:

“I want to say a big thank you to everyone at AMF1 Team for having the trust in me, believing in me, and for giving me this opportunity.

“It’s taken me every bit of blood, sweat and tears to get here. When I first heard it might be a possibility, I could hardly believe it.

“I’ve had to keep it secret for months now – which was pretty hard! It’s been absolutely worth it and it’s given me really valuable insight. Nothing will compare to the acceleration and braking of a Formula One car and, having looked at the data, I’m really proud of my performance.

“Getting to drive the AMR21 has been a dream come true for me and one I’ve been ready to fulfil for a long time. I’ll keep pushing for more and, in the process, I want to inspire other women and let them know they should follow their dream no matter what it is.”

Mike Krack, Team Principal, AMF1 Team, said:

“This is a special moment – for both AMF1 Team and for Jessica, who is an important member of our driver squad.

“We were really impressed by Jessica’s preparation for the test – she worked incredibly hard with our simulator team and that made it an easy decision to put her in the AMR21.

“Jessica approached the opportunity with great maturity; she was up to speed quickly and found a nice rhythm.

“This has been a hugely significant moment in Jessica’s journey with AMF1 Team and I am pleased we could give her this next step in her development journey by testing a modern Formula One car.”

Robert Sattler, F1 Evolution Programme Director, AMF1 Team, added:

“Jessica excelled in her first F1 test. After the installation lap we had a small delay as the circuit was hit by heavy rain. That resulted in a green track and on her first proper run there were still some damp patches in a few corners. 

“Jessica progressively built up speed on a tricky track while managing flawlessly the complexity of the AMR21 car. Her feedback was precise and correlated with our data. After three runs, the track had dried and she was already matching the reference lap speeds.

“Overall, Jessica executed an excellent test programme with a very professional attitude and we hope to see her in the car again soon.”

1973 Triumph TR6 Live Draw

Today, we found out who the lucky new winner of our 1973 Triumph TR6 is!

Our beautiful Mimosa Yellow TR6 was won by Paul King, with ticket number 3086.