There is an often repeated mantra in production car racing: win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Over the years, car manufacturers have poured massive amounts of cash into motorsport as a marketing tool, giving us some iconic cars and moments. From one-off homologation specials to estate cars, production car racing has the ability to turn any car into an immortal legend. In the final part of this trilogy, we look at the purest form of motor racing: Touring cars.
Touring car racing is where you will find saloons, hatchbacks and even the odd estate car duking it out for glory, with the odd bit of contact along the way. The racing is close and relatable, as the cars look almost exactly alike their mass produced counterparts with the addition of a splitter and wing.
Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R
The Skyline’s nickname of ‘Godzilla’ tells you all you need to know about its exploits on the track. It was designed to do one thing: destroy everything else on the track. It dominated the Japanese Touring Car Championship, winning every race and championship from 1990 to 1993; a staggering 29 victories without reply. It also won the Bathurst 1000 in 1991 and 1992. Its dominance may have inadvertently led to the end of Group A touring car racing, but this success earned the brand a legion of loyal fans and revolutionised Nissan’s image.
The road car was quick as well. It produced around 300 horsepower and could do 0-60 in under 5 seconds, while the all-wheel drive system gave it immense grip around corners. The car was updated in 1993 to the V-Spec after rule changes, with the V being for victory. Over 1000 were produced, and the V-Spec boasted larger tyres and better brakes. The following year, the V-Spec II was released which added wider tyres. In total, over 40,000 Skyline R32 GT-Rs were produced in various guises, and they can sell at auctions for more than $100,000.
Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth
The Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth terrorised the competition from 1987 to 1990. The car took 4 wins in the World Touring Car Championship in 1987, but would only finish second in the championship. One DTM title, one BTCC title, two Australian Touring Car titles, two Japanese Touring Car titles and two Bathurst 1000 victories were the highlights of a glorious run for Ford in touring cars all over the world.
As an evolution of the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, Ford needed 500 examples to homologate the RS500 for Group A touring car racing. The power was increased to 224 horsepower and the car featured a few aerodynamic improvements. All 500 examples were sold in the UK, but the car’s performance and competition pedigree led to European tuners replicating the RS500, hence its participation in the DTM. Its exclusivity means it sells for unfathomable amounts of money at auctions; one was sold for a total of almost £600,000 in February 2023, although the previous record was closer to £100,000. The car is fondly remembered all over the world for its touring car success, which is reflected in its high auction prices.
Mercedes 190E
The Mercedes 190E was intended for the world of Group B rallying, but the success of the all-wheel drive Audi Quattro forced Mercedes to switch their attention to the DTM instead. However, its introduction to the motorsport world came in a joint venture with the Nurburgring GP track in 1984, in the so-called Race of Champions. Nine F1 champions, as well as two future champions, took part in a 12 lap race around the track in identical Mercedes 190E 2.3-16s. One of the future F1 drivers would be Alain Prost who qualified on pole, but the star of the show was a certain Ayrton Senna, a rookie in F1 at the time. The race put both Senna and the Mercedes 190E on the map, and 3 weeks later Senna would take a sensational second place at Monaco in his Toleman. Mercedes would get to taste DTM victory 7 years later with the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II, winning the manufacturers title in 1991 and 1992 as well as the 1992 drivers title with Klaus Ludwig, winning 16 out of 24 races in the 1992 season.
The Evo II produced 232 horsepower from its inline four engine, but what caught the eye of observers was its looks. The massive rear wing and rear window spoiler puzzled competitors, with BMW’s R&D chief reportedly remarking “the laws of aerodynamics must be different between Munich and Stuttgart. If that rear wing works, we will have to rebuild the BMW tunnel.” The wing served to reduce drag and increase downforce, and it worked well enough that BMW reportedly redesigned their wind tunnel in the end. 502 Evo II models were built to comply with the DTM’s rules, making the car very exclusive.
Alfa Romeo 155
The Alfa Romeo 155 was one of the icons of the Supertouring era, competing in the BTCC and the DTM throughout the 1990s. The car caused controversy in the BTCC due to its use of aerodynamic devices. The cars were sold with a front splitter and rear wing retracted, but this could be installed by the owners so that the car looked like a racing car. The BTCC rules stated that cars could only have aerodynamic devices that were on the road cars, and since every 155 was sold with the wing and splitter, the touring car could have it even though it was not provided as standard. As a result, Alfa Romeo dominated the 1994 BTCC season with 9 wins out of 21 races, taking the manufacturers’ title and the drivers’ title with former F1 driver Gabriele Tarquini. Alfa Romeo would also be competitive in the DTM with the 155, taking another manufacturer’s and drivers double with another former F1 driver, Nicola Larina.
In all guises, almost 200,000 155’s were built, with the most powerful producing 190 horsepower. To homologate their car for the BTCC, Alfa Romeo also built 2,500 ‘Silverstone’ editions which featured the adjustable splitter and wing. The fastest version of the car, the Q4, used an inline 4 engine and could reach a top speed of 140mph (225kph) as well as going from 0-60mph in 7 seconds thanks to its low drag. Alfa Romeo would produce the 155 until 1998 when it was replaced by the 156.
BMW M3 E30
The BMW M3 dominated touring car racing in the late 1980s. The 1987 World Touring Car Championship, the 1987 and 1988 European Touring Car Championships, as well as two BTCC and DTM championships is only the tip of the iceberg regarding the M3s achievements. The car was continually developed to ensure its competitiveness, as the Evo 1, Evo 2, and Sport Evolution models were made as homologation specials for their touring car siblings. While the base models produced around 200 horsepower, the DTM cars could reportedly put out over 380 horsepower from a 2.5 litre inline 4 engine.
Almost 18,000 roadgoing versions of the BMW M3 E30 were built from 1986 to 1991. European versions of the car were sold with a five-speed dogleg transmission, where first gear is on the bottom left and second gear is on the upper middle of the gear lever, while the USA got the standard transmission layout. The fastest model of the car, the Sport Evolution, made 235 horsepower and could reach 154 mph (250kph). To pay homage to its racing pedigree, BMW also made special limited edition versions of the M3, named the Ravaglia and the Cecotto after its DTM drivers.
Volvo 850 Estate
The Volvo 850 Estate made a huge impression on the BTCC in 1994, and is still talked about today despite its results. The decision to use the estate was made after Volvo found that it made slightly more downforce than its saloon equivalent, and seeing the marketing potential of racing an estate car against a field of saloons, Volvo seized the opportunity. This did not come without drawbacks however; a longer wheelbase, higher centre of gravity and higher weight than their competitors made the car tricky to handle around corners, but the 850 estate performed respectably as it finished 8th out of 10 manufacturers and secured a best finish of 5th. The car would not return for 1995 however, as rule changes allowing wings on the cars meant that the estate’s downforce was not as relevant, and Volvo would go on to win the 1998 BTCC drivers title with Rickard Rydell driving a Volvo S40.
With this car, Volvo proved the power of marketing through motorsports. Thanks to its year in the BTCC, motorsport fans still talk about and remember what would otherwise be a boring and common estate car. It may have been laughed at, but Volvo took it in their stride, even putting a stuffed toy dog in the back of the car on a parade lap. The results never mattered; it is still fondly remembered for the spectacle of seeing an estate car side by side with a saloon.
Comments