One to Buy: ex-works / Jorge de Bagration 1972 Ford Capri RS2600 Gr.2
Between 1971 and ‘72, Ford’s legendary Capri RS2600 was the class of the European Touring Car Championship field. Six ETCC wins from eight outings in 1971 were followed by an astonishing eight from nine in 1972 as Ford saw off Division 3 rivals Schnitzer and Alpina with their E9-based BMWs. Capri man Jochen Mass emerged as the star of the season and won that year’s Driver’s crown.
1972 also saw Ford finish first and second in the Touring class at the Le Mans 24 Hours and, with nine wins from ten races, Capri driver Hans-Joachim Stuck won the inaugural Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM).
Ultimately, it took the might of BMW’s new Motorsport division, an E9-based CSL homologation special and the mid-season arrival of a radical ‘Batmobile’ aero kit to de-throne the Capri from its perch.
Currently on offer at the William I’Anson showroom in Gloucestershire is a veteran of that successful 1972 campaign: chassis GAECMB19997.
Following its career as a works machine with Ford’s factory Touring Car squad based in Cologne, chassis ‘19997’ was sold to Jorge de Bagration and campaigned by the Escuderia National CS team in the 1973 Spanish Touring Car Championship which it won.
The car later did some racing in the UK (during 1976) before heading out to Australia where it was displayed in the York Motor Museum for nearly 20 years. Since then it has undergone a sympathetic restoration and is widely regarded as one of the most original ex-works Capris in existence.
Reprinted below is William I’Anson’s description:
Chassis Number: GAECMB19997
Ex-works
Ex-Escuderia National CS Spanish Touring Car Championship winner
Part of the dominant team brought to the 1972 European Touring Car Championship by the Ford Köln Team, where they went on to win the Spa 24 Hours, Class win in the Le Mans 24 Hours and became the 1972 European Touring Car Champions.
Raced by the brother in law of Works driver Alex Soler-Roig, Prince Jorge de Bagration, with the Escuderia National ‘CS’ team, going on to win the 1973 Spanish Touring Car Championship.
Raced by Charlie Whiting’s brother Nick in the UK in 1976 before entering the York Motor Museum in Australia in the late 1970s.
Purchased by the current owner in 1993 from the York Motor Museum in western Australia, where it had sat in an untouched condition since its last race in the late 1970’s. Remarkably unmolested and completely intact, even down to the oil in the tank and it's untouched damaged engine.
A painstakingly sympathetic restoration over the course of five years, working with exceptionally skilled specialists over in New Zealand resulted in what is likely to be the most original Group 2 RS2600 in the world, with almost every component on the car remaining the original part, aside from fluid lines and current FIA safety equipment.
Since its restoration the car was not only showcased at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed, but it was raced at last years Le Mans Classic.
So if you’re looking the rare opportunity to own an important piece of Ford Works motorsport history and want to compete in events such as Peter Auto’s Heritage Touring Cup and Motor Racing Legends Historic Touring Car Cup or even Le Mans Classic, this is your chance. If road registered, you could also take on the prestigious rallies such a the Tour Auto, and Modena Centro Ore.
