Tuesday 7th January 2014

Rickard Rydell's BTCC Mondeo to be sold

Last of the Super Touring BTCC racers heads to auction

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The Super Touring years really were a glory age for the BTCC, weren't they? Loads of factory-backed teams, great cars, close racing and some amazing drivers made for an enthralling spectacle. With new regulations in 2001, the days of big-bucks touring car teams were over in Britain. It was more accessible for teams, but something had been lost.

Mondeo has been with current owner since '06

The last car to win a Super Touring BTCC was the V6 Ford Mondeo in 2000, developed with Prodrive and a reputed £12m budget from Ford. A 1-2-3 in the championship was a fitting way to bow out of touring cars.

This Mondeo was Rickard Rydell's car for the 2000 season, and is being auctioned at Race Retro in February by Silverstone Auctions. It has been owned by its current owner since 2006 and competed in the past four seasons of a historic touring car championship. The Mondeo is eligible for the new HSCC Touring Car championship also.

Best of all, it's ready to race. The Mondeo has been maintained meticulously and comes with a comprehensive set of Works spares including a new engine. With c.300hp from an normally aspirated 2.0-litre V6, a fresh engine can't come cheap.

The Mondeo goes to auction with an estimate of £100,000-£120,000. Prodrive only built four cars for the 2000 season; one was written off, the Menu championship-winning car is in the Prodrive museum and the Reid car is owned by a Ford collector. A rare opportunity then.

And if you're wondering what all the fuss is about with Mondeo touring cars, see this video. What a noise!

 

[simonigrale]

Yes please !!!

Although if I were in the market for a Super Tourer it would have to be an Alfa.

Be nice to see someone buy it and race it in the HSCC Super Touring Trophy.

[garypotter]

A true bit of motoring history, what a great track day toy for someone.

[0llie]

As much as I love the super-tourers, the only BTCC car I'd spend money on would be one of these

[Dr Interceptor]

Are those HSBC stickers covering cracks in the bumper?

[V8forweekends]

Didn't Nigel Mansell race one of those? Crashed out at Donno IIRC (I reserve the right to be 100% wrong).

[numtumfutunch]

V8forweekends said:

Didn't Nigel Mansell race one of those? Crashed out at Donno IIRC (I reserve the right to be 100% wrong).

1993??

[loudlashadjuster]

V8forweekends said:

Didn't Nigel Mansell race one of those? Crashed out at Donno IIRC (I reserve the right to be 100% wrong).

Was a few years earlier, '93 I think, but yes, he binned it.

[tigerwoods97]

V8forweekends said:

Didn't Nigel Mansell race one of those? Crashed out at Donno IIRC (I reserve the right to be 100% wrong).

He crashed out in 1998 as well I believe (in one of the races anyway) but as far as I know that Mondeo was build by WSR.

[Captainawesome]

makes me miss my old ST24. I still think these are very handsome cars today.

[shake n bake]

Fantastic season that was! It makes the current generation seem a bit mickey mouse, I still enjoy it but it falls a lond way short in terms of racing in my eyes.

[simonigrale]

I got a massive bking on here once about saying the current BTCC is boring so be careful

[moskvich427]

numtumfutunch said:

V8forweekends said:

Didn't Nigel Mansell race one of those? Crashed out at Donno IIRC (I reserve the right to be 100% wrong).

1993??

I believe you mean this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVvebZwmLKU

[bumberding]

ACTION ACTION ACTION, then some more ACTION!

Fantastic stuff.

[pmessling]

When touring cars were worth watching, still good action compared to the F1, i sat in the one at the prodrive museum. bit of a tight squeeze for me.

[Dave Hedgehog]

0llie said:

As much as I love the super-tourers, the only BTCC car I'd spend money on would be one of these

This man is correct

[smilo996]

One Ford Monedo, originally white, then yellow, then blue covered in stickers. One reckless driver. Continually thrashed to within an inch of its life. Several shunts. Bodywork in shocking condition. Many aftermarket and non nsurance approved modifications. Obvioualy tracked as well. Possible crash damged rapaired. No service receipts.
Brilliant.

[Chris Eyre]

These cars are potty, and were the biggest headache for the rule makers in 2000.

The bodies are thin gauge steel (just by tapping the roof or shutting the doors you can tell). Aero not allowed, so they just equipped it with flat bottomed fuel tank, flat rear suspension arms etc - the underside is flat.

When they turned up with triangular exhaust silencers with the flat side continuing the aero theme, they were told to remove them.

They were technical masterpieces also. The right hand wishbone pivots off the engine, the right hand driveshaft runs through the V of the engine.

Ford is rumoured to have spent £10m to win in that season, and there were only 8 cars. It would have been so easy for the rule-makers to be left with just 5....

[stott]

V8forweekends said:

Didn't Nigel Mansell race one of those? Crashed out at Donno IIRC (I reserve the right to be 100% wrong).

I was there, standing by the spark plug commentary box opposite where he binned it! It was the TOCA cup or something if I remember it correctly.

I was 13 at the time, I bought a ford key ring off the merchandise stand and picked up a handful of free mints with 'mondeo' written on the packet, happy days...

[Liquid Tuna]

Great stuff! I never tire of watching clips from this era.

[bqf]

smilo996 said:

One Ford Monedo, originally white, then yellow, then blue covered in stickers. One reckless driver. Continually thrashed to within an inch of its life. Several shunts. Bodywork in shocking condition. Many aftermarket and non nsurance approved modifications. Obvioualy tracked as well. Possible crash damged rapaired. No service receipts.
Brilliant.

Not a fan of incredible historic touring cars then?

I've sat in this car - it's maintained by my race team - and it is a stunning piece of engineering. A genuinely incredible machine, and I'm sure it will go for big money - easily busting that reserve.