16.11.2022The "Porsche-killer" from the 80s by the house of Ford

The Group 5 of the DRM almost offered unrestricted regulations for the manufacturers in the development of a purebred sportscar. Together with Erich Zakowski from Zakspeed, Ford built a turbo-charged Cosworth-BDA-engine with 1.4 liter displacement into the Capri, which had 380hp in the beginning. 

In addition to the engine, the aerodynamics of the vehicle were improved down to the last detail. An impressive rear wing as well as a big front bumper and the inverted airplane wing profile on the underbody provided massive downforce and gave the racing Capri its characteristic appearance. 

In the DRM, which was divided into two classes, the Turbo Capri simply drove ahead of all competitors in the small division with displacements of up to two liters and Zakspeed driver Klaus Ludwig was able to win the championship after a perfect 1981 season.

In 1980 the Turbo was also joined by the Super Capri with the larger 1.7 liter turbo engine, which competed in Division 1 and even put the previously unbeaten Porsche 935 in its place there. Formula 1 and sports car world championship driver Manfred Winkelhock took his place at the wheel of the Super Capri for the Liqui Moly team.

In an almost perfect 1981 season, Winkelhock secured 10 podium finishes in 13 races, including six victories. Due to two retirements and an annoying 14th place in the first race at the Nürburgring, Winkelhock had to admit defeat to his opponent Bob Wollek in the Porsche 935 in Division 1, just five championship points behind, even though the Capri was the significantly faster car.

In the following year, Klaus Niedzwiedz shone in the Super-Capri from the D&W Zakspeed team. Niedzwiedz managed to drive the now up to 650 hp Ford onto the podium six times in the DRM, which was shortened to 10 races, twice as a winner. Despite fast lap times, like his Ford colleague last year, he had to admit defeat to Porsche and ended up in the championship standings behind Bob Wollek and Rolf Stommelen in the 936.

Klaus Niedzwiedz and his Ford Capri went down in racing history in 1982 primarily because of their training track record at the time on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife with a legendary time of 7:08.590 minutes, just ten seconds more than Niki Lauda in the Formula 1 Ferrari in 1975 In addition, the German won the prestigious 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 1982 together with his team colleague Klaus Ludwig in a Ford Capri.

WERK83 has now produced the vehicles of the two racing legends Manfred Winkelhock and Klaus Niedzwiedz from the wild 80s true to the original and in the usual high quality. Both models have steerable front wheels and opening doors.

Ford Capri Turbo Gr. 5 Nigrin #55 DRM 1981 M. Winkelhock 1:18 WERK83, RRP 69,95 €, item-no.: W1804005

Ford Capri Turbo Gr. 5 #3 DRM 1982 Klaus Niedzwiedz 1:18 WERK83, RRP 69,95 €, item-no.: W1804006

productos

Ford Capri Turbo Gr. 5 Nigrin #55 DRM 1981 M. Winkelhock 1:18 WERK83

62,96 €