A THIRD ex-Dick Johnson Racing Ford Sierra has re-emerged in a third country, with the trio returning to the track remarkably within three months!
The first car to resurface was DJR04, which DJR raced from 1988 to 1991, with Johnson using the chassis in 1989 to win five of eight rounds, in the process sealing his fifth and final ATCC crown.
Johnson and offsider John Bowe then used the car to win the Pukekohe 500 that year, the outfit’s sole victory during the period in New Zealand.
On track at Phillip Island. Pic: Mark Walker
The vehicle had undergone a significant rebuild following a fire last year.
The car was the DJR’s final Sierra and debuted at the 1990 Sandown 500.
In its life, the car carried both numbers 17 and 18 before ultimately winning the NZ Nissan-Mobil 500 series points score at the end of 1992 with drivers Paul Radisich and Michael Preston.
At Ruapuna, the car was driven by Lance Coupland.
The latest returnee is DJR02, which recently hit the track at Donington Park for a shakedown following a long hiatus.
The original left-hand-drive car was prepared for the late Gregg Hansford in 1987.
The car was sold at the end of 1988 to the UK Trackstar Racing team, and raced by Mike Smith before being turned into a rally car following the demise of Group A.
An extended restoration led by Paul Linfoot Racing followed, bringing the car back to its original spec.
All told, Dick Johnson Racing built a total of six Sierras.
