One to Buy: Championship-Winning 1973 / 1975 Ford Capri RS2600 / RS3100 Gr.2
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When BMW homologated its radical ‘Batmobile’ aero kit for the 3.0 CSL mid way through 1973, the balance of power in Group 2 Touring Car racing swung inexorably towards the Munich manufacturer. Prior to this, Ford’s Capri RS2600 had been the premier Division 3 class challenger.
Having dominated the 1971 and ‘72 seasons, Ford’s German operation which ran the works Capris from Cologne was reluctant to let a domestic rival steal its thunder. In order to regain its position atop the international Touring Car scene, a batch of formidable RS3100 Capris were commissioned from the Blue Oval’s Halewood factory in England to pave the way for a Batmobile challenger.
As the ultimate iteration of the Mk1 Capri, the RS3100 has gone down in folklore as a true Ford icon, especially when it comes to genuine factory-supported racecars. Although rarely seen, especially with unquestionable provenance and authenticity, just such a machine is currently residing at the Duncan Hamilton ROFGO showroom in Micheldever, Hampshire.
Chassis BFC 002 began its career as a works Group 2 RS2600 assembled by Broadspeed to 1973 ‘Cologne’ specification on behalf of the Ford Motor Company. Upon completion, it was dispatched to Ford of Belgium with whom it would appear in the green and yellow colours of title sponsor, BP.
Aside from two DNFs, Claude Bourgoignie drove chassis BFC 002 either to victory or podium placings in every round of the 1973 Belgian Touring Car Championship. Thanks to a brace of wins and a trio of other top three finishes, Bourgoignie was crowned Belgian over 1300cc Group 2 Champion.
For the 1974 campaign, chassis BFC 002 was loaned out to Bosse Emanuelsson (better known as Bo Emma) who, with factory support and STP backing, won that year’s Swedish Touring Car Championship.
Over the winter of 1974-1975, the Capri made its way to Ford’s motorsport department in Cologne and underwent conversion to works RS3100 trim. The long list of enhancements included installation of the latest fuel-injected 475bhp Cosworth GAA V6 engine plus transmission, aero, cooling, body, wheel and tyre upgrades.
Uniquely, chassis BFC 002 retained its right-hand-drive configuration unlike all the other RS3100 works cars which were left-hand drive.
The now black BFC 002 returned to Bosse Emanuelsson and was quickly back to its winning ways during 1975.
More recently, this hugely successful example of Ford’s revered Capri RS3100 has been beautifully restored to 1975 trim.
