Specialist engineers from Ford and M-Sport have co-operated closely in the development of this 1.6-litre engine, with highly-respected French tuner Pipo Moteur bringing additional expertise to the power plant. The Fiesta RS WRC appearance at the Paris Motor Show precedes the car’s first major test programme with the full 2011 engine specification on gravel roads in Spain next week. The car has already completed almost 3000 kilometres of testing in Britain and France, powered initially by the current WRC engine and more recently by a prototype 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost turbo unit.
The test will provide the first opportunity for BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila to drive the new Fiesta RS WRC.
Gerard Quinn, Ford of Europe’s Motorsport chief, has overseen the Ford development programme throughout 2010 and says: "We’re delighted to preview the Ford Fiesta RS WRC in such a prominent Motor Show as Paris. There are significant visual differences from the Fiesta S2000 base car as well as major changes under the skin. The biggest, of course, is the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost turbo engine - the original version of which was developed by Ford’s Powertrain Engineering team."
M-Sport managing director and BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team director Malcolm Wilson is equally enthusiastic about the new car.
"This is a thrilling time for everyone involved in the car’s development", Wilson affirms. "Countless hours have gone into the Fiesta RS WRC to reach this point, and for the car to be unveiled in public for the first time is a proud moment for us. We are right on track with our development and the team is delighted with testing to date. Another major step forward will be taken at the start of October when the car tests in full 2011 technical specification for the first time.
"We will have a test car running under the guidance of our technical director, Christian Loriaux. Mikko and Jari-Matti lead our challenge with the new car in the 2011 WRC, so their feedback from the testing is critical, and will provide valuable data for our engineering team to work with," added Wilson.
The Fiesta RS WRC will replace the record-breaking Focus RS WRC as Ford’s championship challenger. The Focus RS WRC won back-to-back manufacturers’ world titles in 2006 and 2007, and its victory in New Zealand in May was the Blue Oval’s 75th at WRC level, making Ford the most successful manufacturer in world championship history.
Ford has sold more than one million of the hugely-successful, latest generation Fiesta road cars around the world since it went on sale in October 2008. Fiesta, Ford’s truly global car, is the No 2 best-selling car across Europe.
Also, the latest Fiesta has already proved its abilities in motorsport. The Fiesta SportTrophy International for Fiesta R2 cars is a successful support series to the FIA World Rally Championship and the Fiesta S2000 rally car currently leads the S-WRC support series within the WRC. American sports icon Ken Block has campaigned a Fiesta rally car in the Rally America championship this season, and the car won gold and silver medals in both the Rally Car and Super Rally events at the X Games event in Los Angeles in July.
2011 Volvo C30 DRIVe WTCC
Volvo will be entering the World Touring Car Championship with a C30 DRIVe model in 2011. The company will participate in all races with one Volvo C30 DRIVe racer driven by Robert Dahlgren. However, the 2011 season will just be an evaluation, as the official entry will be made in 2012.
"We are very happy and proud for this vote of confidence. This will be a challenge for us but we have prepared for this for several years. Our organization is in place and we have already started with preparations" says Christian Dahl, Managing Director for Polestar Racing. "Volvo has a solid touring car racing tradition and we see a potential now for converting this into a global commercial tool from 2012 through WTCC. It is vital the technical and commercial aspects of the series align with our ambitions and this is what Polestar is out to confirm for us in 2011."
Volkswagen Scirocco Rally Car
The Touareg isn’t the only Volkswagen getting a little bit of rally flavor. The Volkswagen Scirocco has also received a rally car makeover in the form of the new Scirocco R Bio Power Rally Car. This new rally car was used as an opening car for the 2010 Germany Rally and was driven by WRC returnee Carlos Sainz (Spain) and Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) and the co-drivers Lucas Cruz (Spain) and Timo Gottschalk (Germany).
While the standard version Scirocco R is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0 l TSI engine that delivers 265 PS and 350 NM of torque, the rally car is powered by a 2.0-liter engine that delivers a total of 275 hp and emits 80% less CO2 in comparison to a standard car. The sprint from 0 to 62 mph will be made in about 6.5 seconds, while top speed is limited to 155 mph. The rally car also features a roll cage, racing tires, and a larger rear wing. In addition to these modifications, underbody protection was fitted for rally use.
2010 Citroen DS3 R3
Citroen Racing has used their FIA expertise, as well as the new Group R3T regulations drawn up by the FIA, to create the Citroen DS3 R3. The DS3 R3 will feature a steel body shell reinforced with a welded multipoint roll cage created with the use of 45 meters of steel piping. The weight has been reduced by taking out the supports used in the production model with the battery and the automatic fire extinguisher being moved behind the seats to distribute weight more efficiently.
The DS3 R3 is powered by a four-cylinder 1.6-liter THP (high pressure turbo) engine improved with racing parts (air box, camshaft, pistons, connecting rods, exhaust and turbo systems, electronic unit, etc.). It is mated to a six speed gearbox featuring a semiautomatic sequential control. It also carries with it a specially tuned chassis and suspension. The result is an output of 210bhp and 350 NM of torque.
The Citroen DS3 R3 will be sold as a kit and in ready-to-race versions.
UPDATE 08/17/2010: The Citroen DS3 R3 will make its debut at Ulster Rally in the early afternoon of Friday, August 20th. This will be the first time that the DS3 goes head to head with its rivals, before being offered for sale to customers. Make sure to check back with us on August 20th to see the latest details on the DS3 R3!
2010 Subaru Impreza(R) WRX(R) STI(R)
The Japanese all wheel drive automaker Subaru unveiled the latest addition to the Subaru Road Racing Team this past weekend with their entry in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series at the Daytona Speedway as a precursor to the acclaimed Rolex 24 hour race at Daytona. The race ready Subaru Impreza WRX STI is a wide body version of the standard five door STI powered by a boosted flat four and features a driver selectable power train and dynamic handling controls to ensure world class performance for the Japanese sport compact.
The SRRT STI-R is motivated by a high output version of Subaru’s 2.5 Liter turbocharged and intercooled four cylinder Boxer engine that produces a maximum output of 305 HP and is mated to a six speed manual transmission that features Subaru’s advanced Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) version of Subaru Symmetrical All Wheel Drive that allows the torque to be manually split between the front and rear axle. The SRRT Impreza WRX STI also features a lightweight suspension made up of lots of aluminum pieces to ensure that the road racing STI is light on its feet with as little unsprung mass as possible and a Brembo Performance Brake System to ensure that their drivers don’t encounter brake fade no matter how many times they run deep into the turns2010 Ford Fiesta Monster World Rally
Ford revealed today the official details on the Ken Block’s Monster Ford Fiesta that will campaign seven rally events in North America in 2010 for Ford, including the Summer X Games in August.
The Monster Ford Fiesta is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that is capable to deliver a total of 490 hp at 8,000 rpm, but due to a required turbo-inlet restrictor by the series, the Fiesta will be running in the range of 330 hp.
"I am very excited to finally be in the Fiesta," said Block. "The Fiesta is the car that beat me last summer at X Games. Ford has a great platform with the Fiesta, and I can’t wait to see what I can do in the Rally America championship and at the X Games later this year."
2010 Prodrive Subaru Impreza N2010 WRC
Although the Japanese automaker Subaru pulled out of their factory backed World Rally Championship efforts, the company that built those iconic blue WRC competitors, Prodrive, are still working hard on new versions of the purpose built rally car for privateer racers. Prodrive has just released details about the 2010 Group N Subaru Impreza that will compete in 2010, priced at just under $200,000 the Prodrive Subaru Impreza N2010 WRC is sure to deliver for those willing to take the risk on the stages of the World Rally Championship.
The Impreza N2010 utilizes a new larger 33 mm air restrictor connected to the turbocharged. The new piece was introduced by the FIA in order to help balance the performance between the Group N and unrestricted Super2000 rally cars. Simply by increasing the size of the opening by only one millimeter, fitting a set of high flow fuel injectors and recalibrating the ECU to make everything work harmoniously gives the Scooby a 20 HP bump while beefing up the torque curve and increasing throttle response throughout the entire RPM band while the new Ohlins suspension ensures that the all wheel drive rally car stays on course until the end of the stage.
2010 Renault Twingo RS R1 and R2
One of the more often overlooked cars out there is the Renault Twingo, sure it is still a compact city car aimed at the European masses, but you must admit that it has come a long way from the frog eyed micro car that was introduced at the Paris Motor Show back in 1992. The French in house tuners at Renault Sport Technologies are trying to get their little people mover a bit more exposure by releasing two new purpose built racing cars that can be driven to and from the racetrack as well as be competitive on it each with their own level of hardcore status.
The Twingo RS R2 begins life as a mere Twingo Renaultsport 133 road car powered by a special 1.6 Liter 16V four banger that develops 160 HP and is shifted via a five speed sequential gearbox. Taking the Twingo even further is the R1 version, complete with bolt in protective roll cage this is the model that Renault will present to the FIA in order to get it homologated for sanctioned racing competition. Using the same high performance suspension components as the R2, the R1 takes the daily driven race car to a whole new level, and although you can still use the R1 to go get groceries, you might want to think about investing in a trailer because you will definitely be going racing.
2010 Ford Fiesta S2000
Ford and M-Sport UK revealed today the long-waited Fiesta S2000 rally car. The car will be homologated in January 2010 and will compete in rally championships as IRC and S2000 World Cup.
The Fiesta S2000 has already completed nearly 3000kms of testing both in the UK and Europe and that extensive testing programme will continue into the start of the next year in readiness for the car’s competitive debut.
The Fiesta S2000 is the latest in a long line of rally cars produced as a result of the successful partnership between M-Sport and Ford, starting with the Escort Cosworth in the 1990s and moving on to the record breaking Ford Focus RS WRC and Ford Fiesta ST
2011 Citroen DS3 WRC
The Fiesta S2000 has already completed nearly 3000kms of testing both in the UK and Europe and that extensive testing programme will continue into the start of the next year in readiness for the car’s competitive debut.The Fiesta S2000 is the latest in a long line of rally cars produced as a result of the successful partnership between M-Sport and Ford, starting with the Escort Cosworth in the 1990s and moving on to the record breaking Ford Focus RS WRC and Ford Fiesta ST
