Ford Focus RS WRC

History

The first version of the car was built in 1999 to replace the Ford Escort WRC. It debuted in the Monte Carlo Rally with Colin McRae and Simon Jean-Joseph behind the wheels of the two cars. It was immediately on the pace, setting many fastest stage times, but the use of an illegal water pump meant that the two cars were excluded from the event. McRae gave the Focus its first win two events later on the Safari Rally Kenya finishing over 15 minutes ahead of the second placed Toyota of Didier Auriol. Despite coming close on several occasions, the car never won either the drivers or manufacturers title. This included McRae losing the 2001 title by 2 points after crashing out of the final round.

In 2003, Ford released a newly designed Focus RS WRC, named Focus RS WRC 03, for competition during the second part of the season. The car, with most parts redesigned from the ground up, featured a lighter body shell and a new aerodynamically enhanced front bumper and wing. Markko Märtin drove the car to two world rally victories. The 2004 and 2005 Focus RS WRCs were evolutions based on the RS WRC 03. The Focus RS WRC 04 won three events with Märtin at the wheel. By 2005, the car was no longer very competitive and Ford had a winless season.

From the last rally of the 2005 season, Ford campaigned a brand new model, the Focus RS WRC 06, following the launch of the new road-going version of the car. The engine chosen for this Focus was a Duratec motor developed by the French engine specialist Pipo Moteur.{{cite web |access-date = 2008-02-26 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525174218/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=22884 |archive-date = 2011-05-25

The Focus RS WRC 07 is based on the 2006 model, and according to Ford's technical director Christian Loriaux "the changes on the new car are mainly to save weight and to improve efficiency, driveability and performance at the bottom end of the range." The car debuted very successfully at the 2007 Rally Finland as Ford's Finns Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen finished in first and second. Ford successfully defended the manufacturers' championship in 2007. The car later made history at the 2008 Swedish Rally when Jari-Matti Latvala used it to become the youngest-ever driver to win a world rally.

The Focus RS WRC 08 is based on the 2007 model. The Focus WRC 08 was in competition for the first time with its new front aero design at the 2008 Rallye Deutschland. The 2008 version of the Focus RS WRC includes design style changes as well as engine improvements. Style changes to the grill area reflect the looks of the recently previewed Focus RS Mk II road sport car. The 2008 RS WRC was driven to its only victory at the 2008 Rally Japan.

The 2009 version of the Focus RS WRC debuted at the 2009 Rally d'Italia Sardegna, leading Ford to a 1-2. It includes small design style changes. Style changes were made to the lights frame and rear bumper to bring the look closer to the Focus RS Mk II 2009 road sport car. The 2009 Focus RS WRC remained the last of Ford's WRC cars based on the Focus. It was replaced by the Ford Fiesta RS WRC after the 2010 season.

The Ford Focus RS WRC appeared in 173 World Rally Championship events, winning 44 and collecting 142 podium places.

WRC Victories

Gallery

Image:Ma3 ford.jpg|Focus WRC (1999) at the 2001 Rally Finland. Image:2000 WRC Acropolis Day3 Sainz.jpg|RS WRC 00 at the 2000 Acropolis Rally. Image:Cs ford.jpg|RS WRC 01 at the 2001 Rally Finland. Image:Janne Tuohino.jpg|RS WRC 02 at the 2004 Cyprus Rally. Image:2003 Acropolis Rally 22.jpg|RS WRC 03 at the 2003 Acropolis Rally. Image:François Duval - 2004 Rally Finland.jpg|RS WRC 04 at the 2004 Rally Finland. Image:Ss6 garde.jpg|RS WRC 04 at the 2005 Acropolis Rally. Image:Ford Foucus WRC05.JPG|RS WRC 06 at the 2006 Rally Japan. Image:Andy Priaulx - 2007 Race of Champions 2.jpg|RS WRC 07 at the 2007 Race of Champions. Image:Khalid al-Qassimi - 2008 Rallye de France SS5.jpg|RS WRC 08 at the 2008 Tour de Corse File:Jari-Matti Latvala in Rally Bulgaria 2010.JPG|RS WRC 09 at the 2010 Rally Bulgaria

References

References

1. "Ford Focus RS WRC 07 technical specification".
2. "Ford Focus RS WRC 07, BP-Ford World Rally Team seeks to take huge steps forward". Auto Racing Daily.
3. (12 November 2010). "Ford bids a star-studded farewell to its Focus WRC". WRC.com.