1989 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth BTCC — Ex Tim Harvey “Labatt’s” Works Touring Car
Registration: N/A (Competition Car)
Chassis Number: ARE RSC 0389
Chassis: Andy Rouse Engineering BTCC RS500
Engine: Cosworth YB Group A Touring Car Specification
Odometer: Competition Mileage
Key Facts..
Genuine Andy Rouse Engineering-built RS500 BTCC car
Driven in-period by BTCC Champion Tim Harvey
Two race wins during the 1989 British Touring Car Championship season
Winner of the Macau Guia Touring Car Race with Tim Harvey
Competed in both the 1989 and 1990 BTCC seasons
Retains its original Labatt’s livery from the end of the 1990 season
Later reunited with Tim Harvey for historic racing events
Unrestored Group A touring car with documented competition history
Provenance..
Built by Andy Rouse Engineering, one of the most successful touring car teams of the era, this RS500 was constructed for the 1989 British Touring Car Championship season and driven by Tim Harvey, one of the leading drivers of the Group A period.
The late 1980s represented the peak of RS500 dominance in international touring car racing. Under FIA Group A regulations the Sierra RS500 Cosworth quickly became the car to beat, with teams such as Andy Rouse Engineering developing highly competitive versions capable of producing well in excess of 450bhp.
Within this fiercely competitive environment, the car quickly established itself as a front-running entry within the championship.
Specification..
Period Group A touring car specification including:
Cosworth YB turbocharged racing engine
Group A touring car engine management system
Rear-wheel drive configuration
Touring car suspension geometry and braking systems
Period aerodynamic configuration
Original race seat and cockpit configuration retained
Original paintwork and Labatt’s graphics preserved
During later historic competition use a replacement race engine was installed with modern engine management for reliability. The original ARE-stamped cylinder head and ECU remain with the car.
Engine preparation and support has been overseen by Dave Hill, the renowned former Mountune engineer.
Race History..
1989 British Touring Car Championship
Driven by Tim Harvey, the car was a consistent front-running entry during the season.
Highlights included:
Two overall race victories
Third place in Class A
Regular top results against leading Group A opposition.
At the conclusion of the BTCC season the car was shipped to Asia to compete in the prestigious Macau Guia Touring Car Race.
Running in Watsons Water livery, Tim Harvey drove the car to victory, securing one of the most notable results of its period career.
1990 British Touring Car Championship
Following its success in Macau, the same chassis was retained for the 1990 BTCC season.
Now wearing the distinctive Labatt’s livery, the car once again competed at the front of the championship, finishing:
Third in Class A
Fourth overall in the 1990 British Touring Car Championship standings.
At the end of the season the car was retired from frontline competition and remarkably remains today in the same configuration and livery in which it finished its final 1990 race.
History..
Following its BTCC career the car remained in private ownership for many years before being exported to Australia in 2008, where it appeared in a single race within the Touring Car Masters series.
In 2011 the car returned to the United Kingdom after being purchased by well-known racer Paul Smith.
Under Smith’s ownership the RS500 was recommissioned and prepared for historic motorsport events including:
Silverstone Classic
Gold Cup at Oulton Park
In a fitting continuation of its story, Tim Harvey was reunited with the car, sharing driving duties at several historic events.
Notable Drivers..
Tim Harvey
One of the most successful British touring car drivers of his generation, Harvey achieved major success during the Group A era and later became British Touring Car Champion in 1992.
His association with the Sierra RS500 and teams such as Andy Rouse Engineering played a key role in the car’s success during the late 1980s touring car boom.
More recently he has continued to appear with the car during historic events, including a demonstration run at Brands Hatch Touring Car Festival.
Recently described by Tim on his 2025 Birthday as " his most favourite car ever! "
Current Condition..
The car has remained in enthusiast ownership and maintained in ready-to-run condition.
Recent work and preparation includes:
Regular inspection and servicing by AWS
Replacement Ohlins dampers installed and set up by Mardi Gras Motorsport
Original Spax dampers retained and included
Two sets of original wheels
Additional set of wheels fitted with new tyres
The car retains:
Original paintwork and graphics
Original race seat and cockpit layout
Period livery exactly as raced in 1990
For preservation purposes the car has been ceramic coated inside and out and is stored in a climate-controlled environment.
Media & Demonstrations..
The car continues to attract interest from enthusiasts and media.
Most recently it appeared on Jonny Smith’s “The Late Brake Show”, where Tiff Needell drove the car at Mallory Park, providing a modern demonstration of the RS500’s legendary performance.
Summary..
A genuine Andy Rouse Engineering-built RS500 with documented British Touring Car Championship history, race victories and a prestigious Macau Guia Touring Car Race win, this car represents a rare survivor from the golden era of Group A touring car racing.
Remarkably preserved in the same configuration in which it finished the 1990 BTCC season, and later reunited with its original driver Tim Harvey, it stands as an authentic and highly significant piece of British motorsport history.
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