British Touring Car Championship racing version of the 1990s sales rep favourite Ford Mondeo is set to sell for £80,000
Once one of Britain's best-selling family cars, there is a side of the Mondeo's history that is often forgotten
A RACE-READY version of one of Britain's all-time best selling family cars has emerged for sale - and could fetch as much as £80,000.
A favourite among the sales reps of our nation, the Ford Mondeo has been one of the UK's most popular cars thanks to its practicality since it was first launched in 1992.
But a side of the saloon's history that is often forgotten is its racing heritage.
Between 1993 and 2000 the Mk1 and Mk2 Mondeos raced in the prestigious British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), with Ford entering the factory works Ford Team Mondeo.
The team was taken over by motorsport group Prodrive in 1999, with this particular motor acting as the spare car for the 1999 BTCC season.
The Prodrive Super Tourer was raced in the last three rounds of that year's championships by renowned racer, Anthony Reid, after his original car was damaged beyond repair.
Just a year later, Ford pulled out of the Championship and the Super Tourer was sold for good.
It has been owned by a private enthusiast ever since, and has raced at a number of high-profile races including the Silverstone Classic.
The Mondeo has recently undergone a full engine rebuild costing £30,000, and has only been run for a total of four hours since.
Under the bonnet is a V6, 2.0-litre engine, which produced 305bhp in its prime, while the interior features just one racing seat and a roll cage.
Silverstone Auctions are anticipating offers of between £70,000 and £80,000, and are expecting plenty of interest from keen racers - especially given the recent popularity of "Fast Fords".
More classic motors for sale
Harry Whale, a classic car specialist with Silverstone Auctions, said: "This Prodrive Mondeo Super Tourer has proven performance credentials and is fresh from an expert rebuild.
"It’s a great opportunity for racers who enjoy competing at high-profile championship level surrounded by cars from an iconic period of BTCC racing."
The car will at feature at Silverstone Auctions' sale at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, taking place on February 23.