5. Ford Sierra
Picture source – Simon Lewis Transport Books
It’s a close run between the Sierra and the Cavalier for a spot in the top ten, the latter of which – decked out in its iconic yellow and white livery – gave John Cleland the 1995 British Touring Car Championship before being retired the following year. But fair’s fair, the RS500 is one of the series’ most memorable entities thanks to a Texaco black livery and one key word: ‘Cosworth’. Demonic power and with a soundtrack to match, the Sierra was the idol of tin top drivers on-track across Europe and the UK as it took BTCC legend Andy Rouse to one of his four championships in 1985: a snappy Labatt’s blue Sierra, complete with the Gloucestershire man in the hot seat became a symbol for the series that still lasts today. Then there’s a successful campaign in the Australian Touring Car Championship to consider. Though V8 Supercar hall of famer Dick Johnson – a regular on the Aussie tin top scene for nearly 30 years from 1970-99 – bookended his Ford ATCC career in the Falcon, a short spell with the RS500 was still enough to cement his two of his ATCC crowns in ’88-’89 and the final of his driving career.
