By the end of the 1960s Ford was pursuing a wide-ranging global competitions programme, and with its UK operation concentrating on developing the Escort for rallying and circuit racing, Jochen Neerpasch, head of the Motorsport Department in Cologne, was delegated to start work on the racing Capri.

Known as the 'RS2600', this would be based on the 2600GT, Ford of Germany's top-of-the-range model at the time, although Cologne's first efforts involved modified 2300GTs.

A number of successes, including class wins, were achieved in international rallies in 1969 but it was already clear that the car's greatest potential was as a circuit racer.

In Group 2 racing trim the RS2600's Weslake-developed V6 engine was bored out to 2,995cc and equipped with Kugelfischer fuel injection and dry sump lubrication, in which form it developed in excess of 320bhp.

The suspension, brakes and wheels were up-rated appropriately and the bodywork lightened by the extensive use of glassfibre panels.

A ZF fiv...