1989 saw a repeat win at Bathurst for the Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth, having won the previous year. This time out the famous 1000km race on the Mount Panorama circuit was won by Dick Johnson and John Bowe, the driver pairing completing the 1000km in 6hrs 30mins and 53.44secs. It was Johnson's second Bathurst win, the first being in 1981 in a Ford Falcon XD with John French, and he would go on to win again with John Bowe in the 1994 race, driving a Ford Falcon EB.
The Sierra Cosworth was one of the most successful of the Group A touring cars which predominated touring car racing in the 1980s. As 5000 (plus later 500 "Evolution" models) had to be sold to the public to homologate a Group A car for racing, the cars had to have a roadgoing equivalent that was relatively affordable to ensure enough could be sold to meet the required sales numbers. I also have the 1988 Bathurst winning Sierra in my collection and I have added more information about the Sierra Cosworth on the page dedicated to the '88 winner.
This particular model has been a red hot favourite among collectors everywhere. It sold out almost as soon as it was released and I was very lucky to get one from Kevin Pickell at www.scale18.com. He posted a quick note on his message board saying he had a few of them left for pre-ordering, and to email him ASAP if anyone was interested. I happened to be viewing the message board at the time and e-mailed him straight away! Had I seen the message 30 mins later I would have been too late! The only place I've seen them come up for sale regularly now is at www.gatewaymodels.com.au where they sell second hand models in good condition for up to 5 times the original retail price! (Hence I'm glad I was able to get my example of this model at the retail price).
Apart from the fact that this model depicts a Bathurst winner, I think the reason it sold so fast is due to the fantastic looking red paint with yellow and white sponsorship logos, set off very nicely by the gold coloured wheels. It is just a great looking racing car! Also, if I remember correctly it was the very first of Minichamps 1:18th Sierra line to be released, and indeed it was released several months prior to any non-Australian versions so I believe it was very popular with non-Australian collectors who were very keen to get their hands on a 1:18th Sierra.
Minichamps did a good job on their racing Sierras, and this model is no exception. The weakest parts are the rear lights and the brakes, which do not look realistic in the way they do on an equivalent AUTOart model (who also now make the 3 door Sierra Cosworth in street and race forms). The engine and interior detail are very good however, and the exterior finish on the model is great. So overall it gets a rating of 72.5%, but if rarity or "hardness to find" was the only marking criteria then it would quite possibly get 100%!
72.5%
