|
BRUSSELS, November 2, 2004 – Ford of Europe today announced
a major commitment to the World Rally Championship. The Company has entered into
a four-year agreement with Malcolm Wilson's British-based M-Sport company, which
has operated Ford's WRC programme for the past eight years.
The commitment ensures Ford's continuing presence at the top level of world
rallying with the highly successful Focus. The existing Focus RS WRC will be the
Company's challenger in the 2005 championship. An all-new Focus RS WRC rally
car, based on the new road car which goes on sale in Europe later this month,
will be introduced from 2006 onwards.
"We have carried out a long and comprehensive review of the motorsport scene
and Ford's involvement in it," said Booth. "As part of our review we have
developed a motorsport strategy which builds on our rallying heritage and is
integrated into our core business.
"I'm delighted to announce that the headline news in that strategy is that
Ford will enter into a long-term commitment to the World Rally Championship. We
have further strengthened our long-running partnership with Malcolm Wilson's
M-Sport company.”
New Ford Focus RS WRC
The new generation Focus will continue a family tradition that has seen the
model provide the backbone of Ford's motorsport activity since 1999. With the
launch of the new generation Ford Focus well underway, Ford believes it provides
a strong new base for future rally activities. Ford will showcase an all-new
Ford Focus RS WRC in World Championship Rallying from 2006 onwards following a
development period during 2005.
"Ford's long-term commitment to the WRC will provide a great boost to the
sport," said Jost Capito, Director of Ford Team RS.
"Ford has been involved in rallying since before the World Rally Championship
was conceived," Capito said. "Our continuation in WRC is excellent news for the
championship and emphasises just how much the sport has developed in recent
years.
"Our review showed there is a strong business case for Ford's continued
involvement. The proposals from the FIA to reduce the costs of competing in the
WRC, via revisions to the regulations, convinced us to continue long term. While
the exact nature of those revisions has still to be finalised, I welcome these
moves. We at Ford look forward to working with the FIA and the other
manufacturers to make the sport as cost-effective as possible.
"Since 1997, we have worked closely with M-Sport to develop a world class
rally team operating from world class facilities at Malcolm Wilson's Dovenby
Hall premises. We believe that the infrastructure is now in place for us to move
forward and build a team capable of bringing world titles to Ford," he added.
Strengthened partnership with M-Sport
Ford of Europe's four-year commitment strengthens considerably its
partnership with M-Sport. Malcolm Wilson said: "This agreement is wonderful news
for both Ford and M-Sport and is the culmination of much effort over the past
few months by many people from our respective organisations. I would like to
thank Ford for the confidence it has shown in M-Sport by extending our
partnership for the next four years. I also wish to express my gratitude to my
team at Dovenby Hall, which has put such huge effort and enthusiasm into the
programme for the past eight seasons.
"A four-year programme allows us the opportunity to develop the new Ford
Focus into a challenger for WRC success. Development of the new car will begin
immediately and will run alongside our existing WRC commitments throughout the
2005 season. We have 14 months from now until the opening round of the 2006
season so the timescale is set for us to work to.
"We have the strongest structure in place at Dovenby Hall, both in terms of
experienced personnel and facilities, since M-Sport took over responsibility for
the programme at the end of 1996. That will be used to design what I am sure
will be a winning car for 2006 onwards, while continuing to maintain the high
standards we have set with the current Focus RS WRC during 2004," he added.
Ford Focus 2006 RS WRC Concept Breaks Cover
BRUSSELS, November 2, 2004 – Following the announcement of its
four-year commitment to the FIA World Rally Championship, Ford of Europe has
shown what the new generation Ford Focus RS WRC could look like.
Ford and the British-based company M-Sport have forged a strengthened
partnership to ensure Ford's continuing presence at the top level of world
rallying and M-Sport, working with Ford Team RS, has produced this vision of an
all-new Focus rally car. The dynamic lines of the new Ford Focus, and especially
the coupe-like stance of the 3-door model, provide the perfect base for the
dramatic looking 2006 Focus RS WRC concept.
Sporting a proud blue oval livery the Focus 2006 RS WRC concept shares design
cues with the existing Focus RS WRC that will be the Company's challenger in the
2005 championship. The standard road car's prominent wheelarches are matched to
a full width front spoiler and generous bonnet air vents. A roof mounted air
scoop and a characteristic rear spoiler contribute to the functional
WRC-inspired appearance.
Despite the WRC add-ons and design changes that draw strongly on the existing
Focus rally car, the Focus 2006 RS WRC concept is markedly different with its
faster rear screen angle, in particular, indicating a visually more aggressive
rally car.
The new generation Focus will continue a family tradition that has seen the
model provide the backbone of Ford's motorsport activity since 1999. It is
appropriate that a car so widely praised for its driving quality will continue
to provide the base for Ford's future rally activities and the WRC will be the
perfect showcase for the dynamic attributes of the new Focus from 2006 onwards.
The unveiling of the Focus 2006 WRC concept signals the start of a 14-month
programme that will see the fully developed rally car compete in the opening
round of the 2006 season. It is also the start of a four-year programme to
develop the new Ford Focus into a challenger for WRC success. Initially, this
programme will run alongside Ford's existing WRC commitments throughout the 2005
season.
|
