Friday 1st October 2010

Paris: Ford Fiesta WRC

Ford's new rally car completes WRC trio

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Ford has taken the covers off its new Fiesta WRC contender at the Paris motor show, the third new-era WRC model to be launched at the show.

Having campaign the Focus since 1999, Ford and its M Sport rally team have decided to switch to the Fiesta for 2011, since the new WRC rules better suit the smaller Supermini.

So far the car has been testing with a Ford Focus engine. Now though, having officially unveiled the car itself, the next step comes in the next few days when the car will be tested in full 2011 spec for the first time.

This is all very nice, Ford, and we wish you all the very best in the WRC, but can we have the Fiesta ST now, please?

[GTRene]

nice car, looks like how a focus wrc could look like the fiesta became the focus and the focus became euh...big?

Edited by GTRene on Friday 1st October 10:59

[RTH]

Agree with that .
That is a really purposeful looking rally car.
This new Fiesta is so different from the previous versions going back to 1976 that it really should have had a name change as well. Changing from Escort to Focus was just the right thing to do in '97.

[liamsp]

I think they should do an RS version maybe using the new ST engine 250hp fiesta sounds good fun

[Chr1sch]

Looks absolutely awesome!

If they made a road version in one nice metallic colour it would be a very special bit of kit!

[T84]

[KrissJ]

Amazing looking car. This is just what I've wanted to see ever since they launched the new Fiesta. It's a good looking car anyway but I thought it would lend itself well to some muscular styling. Now we just need a road going version.

[Matt0812]

KrissJ said:

Amazing looking car. This is just what I've wanted to see ever since they launched the new Fiesta. It's a good looking car anyway but I thought it would lend itself well to some muscular styling. Now we just need a road going version.

What he said! Can't wait for an ST now after seeing that

[A Scotsman]

There's something reassuring about Fords isn't there.

I'm also looking forward to seeing the new Fiesta ST next year and think Ford should usurp the Clio Cup Championship with a Fiesta Cup Championship by building a race version. They've done all the work already with the WRC development so it would be a doddle.

[Beefmeister]

Makes the Mini WRC look like a plate of sick.

Awesome.

[T84]

Ford make absolutely beautiful top of the range cars... ST220, ST170, Focus RS/ST

I think it's the wheels, they just look so 'right' on those types of car.

[obscene]

Now bring out a fiesta st with 4wd or rwd and I'll be buying one (not a hope in hell, is there?)

[wab172uk]

obscene said:

Now bring out a fiesta st with 4wd or rwd and I'll be buying one (not a hope in hell, is there?)

A Fiesta RS would be better.

[philis]

Thought the WRC regs were dead, switching to s2000 next year.

Does that mean ive got to endure another season of Sebastian fart?

[Gizmo!]

philis said:

Thought the WRC regs were dead, switching to s2000 next year.

Does that mean ive got to endure another season of Sebastian fart?

The FIA World Rally Championship will switch to Super2000 regs.

[stew-S160]

WANT!

[ManOpener]

The rear window and quarter-panel and windscreen-to-bonnet line really remind me of the new Scirocco.
I think it looks pretty darn tidy. If the ST looks even close to as good I can see it being a big seller.

[mharris]

This leaves me with a big problem..

Do I buy a new mk7 ST when it comes out, or wait in the hope that there will eventually be a mk7 RS.

[dvance]

Can I have one pleeeeeeaaaaseeeee, I'll take good care of it

[tbtstt]

I think this looks stunning - the new Fiesta looks superb in all its racing guises though: rallycross, Gymkhana and now WRC. A Fiesta ST would certainly be a welcome addition to the Ford showrooms...


...but an RS would be even better!

And the cars in WRC next year will still be known as "World Rally Cars" - with the most recent crop of regulations introduced by the FiA, they are now significantly different to the S2000 cars.

[Lee_sec]

Looks amazing... If the road-going version is anything close Ford are onto a winner...

Ken Block is using an '11 Fiesta WRC in his latest 'Gymkhana' movie that is doing the rounds on Youtube.