Career-best result for Gardemeister in Monte Carlo

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Ford claimed an early lead in the FIA World Rally Championship after Toni Gardemeister and Jakke Honkanen finished second on their debut for the BP-Ford team in the Monte Carlo Rally today. A career-best result for Gardemeister and eighth place for team-mates Roman Kresta and Jan Tomanek, both behind the wheel of Focus RS World Rally Cars, thrust Ford into a share of top spot after the first of the 16-round series.
 
Ford claimed an early lead in the FIA World Rally Championship after Toni Gardemeister and Jakke Honkanen finished second on their debut for the BP-Ford team in the Monte Carlo Rally today. A career-best result for Gardemeister and eighth place for team-mates Roman Kresta and Jan Tomanek, both behind the wheel of Focus RS World Rally Cars, thrust Ford into a share of top spot after the first of the 16-round series.

Twenty-nine-year-old Gardemeister delivered a highly mature performance on his competition debut in a Focus RS. After a cautious start to the three-day 1360km event, the Finn quickly gained confidence over the demanding mountain roads in the Alpes-Maritimes region, above the Côte d'Azur. He drove within his abilities throughout the 15 asphalt speed tests, covering 353.07km, and resisted immense final day pressure to come out on top of a fierce three-car battle for second.

Kresta and Tomanek, also making their debut for the BP-Ford World Rally Team, ensured a double points haul. The Czech duo recovered from a five minute penalty after a seized gearbox brought their car to a halt late last night, the result of an accident in the final special stage of the day when they hit a rock and broke the front left suspension. Revitalised today, Kresta posted top six times on each of the six tests and was fastest on the famous Col de Turini stage midway through the leg.

Remarkably mild temperatures made this year's event less fearsome than normal. The classic mix of wet and dry asphalt, ice and snow, all in the space of a few kilometres, was missing. There was only the occasional ice and snow patch to trouble competitors and the rally will go down in history as one of the driest. The benign conditions made tyre selection easier than normal. Studded tyres, usually needed to bite through the ice and snow, were never used. Gardemeister and Kresta used Michelin's dry weather rubber throughout, which worked perfectly on the relatively clean roads.



Gardemeister and Honkanen started today's final leg in third, fighting for second with Petter Solberg and Marcus Grönholm. The BP-Ford duo held off their charging rivals, who both crashed close to the Col de Turini, to ensure second. Gardemeister's exceptional performance at the wheel of the Castrol-branded Focus RS earned him the prestigious Star of the Rally award.

"I'm so, so happy," he said. "It is a great result for us and to achieve it so early in the season makes it even better. We had a good fight with Petter and Marcus but when I heard that they had problems, then I knew it would be OK. I saw Petter's car off the road and we lost some time at his accident. They had pushed it back onto the road and I had to stop briefly and stalled the engine.

"For both cars to score points on the first rally is a great start for the team. My confidence with the Focus has increased with every kilometre and this result has been achieved without making a single mistake," he added.



Kresta's increased confidence was rewarded today when he climbed from an overnight 10th back into the points. "Today has been very good," he said. "I had a much better feeling with the car. I was so sorry for my mistake last night but at least I was able to come back and score points for Ford. It's a really positive weekend for the whole team.

"Today was a new day and a new race. Yesterday was a small mistake for me but a big mistake for the result. I've driven better today. I didn't push, I just drove smoothly and that's the best way to drive the Focus," he added.



BP-Ford team director Malcolm Wilson was overjoyed with the result. "It was a great display from Toni. He showed superb consistency and dealt with the pressure superbly. I'm amazed how well he adapted to the Focus. I don't think I've ever seen anyone as nervous as Roman before the start. Ironically, the turning point for him was when he made his mistake last night. It removed the pressure and he was far more relaxed today. It was tremendous for him to set his first fastest time for the team on his debut, and his confidence has developed all weekend," he said.

Ford Nominates Henning for Points



Ford Nominates Henning for PointsFord has named Norwegians Henning Solberg and Cato Menkerud as nominated drivers for this month's Swedish Rally. The pair will drive an M-Sport prepared Ford Focus RS World Rally Car on the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship. They will join BP-Ford World Rally Team drivers Toni Gardemeister and Jakke Honkanen as Ford's named points scorers. Gardemeister's BP-Ford team-mates Roman Kresta and Jan Tománek will drive the BP Ultimate-branded Focus RS in which they finished eighth on the Monte Carlo Rally earlier this month. They will be eligible for drivers' points but will not score for the manufacturers' series.

BP-Ford team director Malcolm Wilson took the decision following the Monte Carlo Rally, at which Ford took a share of the lead in the championship. "Henning is a highly experienced driver in winter conditions who has the ability to deliver a good points-scoring result for the team. This decision also removes the pressure from Roman and Jan. They have started Sweden just once previously, and now have the opportunity to increase their experience there without the worries of having to concentrate on scoring points for Ford as well," he said.

Solberg, who finished sixth in Sweden last year, said he was delighted to be nominated. "I am so looking forward to the rally and will do everything in my power to deserve this vote of confidence. I will direct all my efforts towards finishing the rally and scoring important championship points for Ford," he said.

The Swedish Rally will be the first of seven loose surface European WRC events for 32-year-old Solberg in an M-Sport-prepared Focus RS. He will also compete in Italy, Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Finland and Britain.

Sola gets the nod from Ford for Mexico
 
Spain's Daniel Sola will drive the 'second' Ford entry on the Rally Mexico next month, after Ford confirmed today that he and team leader, Toni Gardemeister will be nominated for points.



Although regular driver, Roman Kresta will still take part in the event, and still in his usual BP Ultimate-branded Focus RS, he will only be eligible to score drivers' points - exactly the same situation as it was in Sweden at the weekend, when Henning Solberg was the preferred candidate.

Ford boss, Malcolm Wilson made the decision following the Swedish Rally, at which Ford took a three point lead in the manufacturers' championship and Gardemeister's second consecutive podium earned him a one point advantage in the drivers' standings. Sola has competed in Mexico before, unlike Kresta, winning the Group N production car category on the events inaugural appearance in the championship in 2004, and Wilson feels that this experience could be crucial.

Sola meanwhile who won the 'Junior' championship in 2002 has revealed he feels 'privileged' to be able to represent Ford.

"I am totally committed to getting the very best possible result for Ford and, personally for Malcolm," he said.

"Without any doubt, it's a privilege for me to represent Ford. The fact is that I'm working with one of the best teams in the world of rallies. My week at M-Sport is a great opportunity to work on a thorough knowledge of the mechanics of the car since that's a very important aspect of the new format for rallies."

The 29-year-old will spent this week at M-Sport's Dovenby Hall base in England and will test a latest specification Focus RS WRC on gravel on Thursday.

Mexico will be the first of six WRC events for the Spaniard in an M-Sport-prepared Focus RS which is supported by Telefonica MoviStar and backed by Spain's RACC Automobile Club. He will also compete in Germany, Japan, France, Spain and Australia.

Article from: Crash.Net

Ford insist: Kresta is not out of favour.


 
Ford boss, Malcolm Wilson has insisted that Roman Kresta has by no means disappointed the team in the opening two rounds of the 2005 FIA World Rally Championship, despite the decision announced today not to nominate the Czech for the second event in succession.



Like in Sweden then, when Ford preferred to nominate local expert, Henning Solberg, Kresta will again not be eligible to score points in the manufacturers' championship next month, instead, Daniel Sola will have that honour, and will effectively be their 'second' driver for the event.

"Dani's previous experience in Mexico tipped the decision in his favour," explained Wilson.

"He drove there in 2003, when the rally was not in the world championship, and again last season. Two years' experience of the stages there gives the team an advantage over our rivals."

Wilson also believes that the decision is a good one for Kresta, as it now means he is under less pressure...

"This move will also help Roman come to terms with a new rally," he added, further justifying the announcement. "He can discover the characteristics of the Mexican roads at his own pace without having to worry about pushing to score points for Ford. He is in the middle of a steep learning programme and drivers' points on both rallies so far indicate that he is coping extremely well."

Kresta finished eighth in both Sweden and the season opening Monte Carlo Rally, back in January.

Article from: Crash.Net

New designer for FordM-Sport, the British-based team which runs Ford's programme in the FIA World Rally Championship, has named Simon Carrier as its new chief designer. Carrier, who has worked at M-Sport since 2002, will play a prominent role in the design of the new Focus RS World Rally Car which will carry the Blue Oval's championship challenge from next season onwards.

Forty-one-year-old Carrier's professional motorsport career began at Lola Cars where he was involved in the aerodynamic development of the Nissan Group C sports car, which took pole position at Le Mans in 1990. In 1992, he joined Team Lotus to participate in the Formula 1 team's wind tunnel research. Three years later he was recruited to work on the design of Ford's new Mondeo Super Touring Car in Bavaria.

He then joined British team Prodrive, being involved in such diverse projects as styling/aero investigation for a luxury car manufacturer and chassis development for off-road vehicles. He was also heavily involved in Ford's touring car programme, designing the body structure of the Mondeo which won the British championship in 2000.

While still at Prodrive, Carrier played a leading role in designing the 2000 season Subaru Impreza for the World Rally Championship. But Ford's motorsport programmes have proved to be a recurring link throughout his career and he joined M-Sport as senior designer in 2002, working on the radical and successful Focus RS World Rally Car, which formed the basis of the BP-Ford World Rally Team's current car.

Carrier will continue to work under the direction of M-Sport's technical director, Christian Loriaux. "Simon has an impressive career record in motorsport and was a key member of the successful team behind the 2003 Ford Focus RS World Rally Car," said Loriaux. "We are now moving into a new era with the design of the 2006 Focus RS, based on the new generation Focus road car, and I'm confident he is the right person to lead our team forward in the design of what is likely to be Ford's most important rally car ever."

Carrier said: "Ford's motorsport programmes have been a fairly constant theme throughout my career. We are entering a massively exciting time at M-Sport with the design of the new Focus RS WRC and I'm proud to lead the design team into this project. We have much to live up to after the first generation Focus RS, but I'm confident that we have the ability and the expertise within the team to produce a car that can take Ford to the world title."

Ford aims to create history on the Cyprus Rally (12 - 15 May) by extending its remarkable points scoring record in the FIA World Rally Championship to 50 consecutive events. Since the championship was officially launched in 1973, there have been 410 world rallies and no other manufacturer has composed a run of successive points scores that exceeds 35 events. The record-breaking sequence began on the Monte Carlo Rally in 2002. BP-Ford World Rally Team drivers Toni Gardemeister and Jakke Honkanen and team-mates Roman Kresta and Jan Možný carried the run to 49 when both scored points in Italy earlier this month. All 49 points finishes have been scored by the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car.



Gardemeister and Kresta are the two drivers with the task of taking Ford to its half century. The Cyprus Rally, round six of the championship, is the first of three consecutive hot weather, rough road events in the eastern Mediterranean. The Focus RS has built an awesome reputation on events where rocky gravel tracks and high temperatures require a crucial blend of strength, reliability and speed to be successful. It has won in Cyprus twice in the rally's five years in the championship.

The rock-strewn roads high in the Troodos Mountains above the rally base in Limassol are hard on cars. The three-day rally will offer some of the toughest conditions of the season where endurance is as important as outright pace. The speed tests are so twisty that straights simply do not exist and the rally is the slowest in the championship. Last year's event was won at an average speed of only 65.60kph.

This will be the fourth start in Cyprus for Gardemeister, who lies fifth in the drivers' championship and has scored on all five rounds so far this season. "Consistent scoring is the key to a good championship position but it's also important to ensure that some of those points finishes are podium places to claim high points," said the 30-yerar-old Finn.

"Cyprus is twisty, slow and rough and it's not one of my favourite events. It's important to drive straight and avoid breaking the car because there are many stones on the road that can inflict heavy damage. It's difficult to keep a smooth rhythm because the speeds are so low and there is always the temptation to push harder. The roads are quite flowing but if a driver pushes too hard then the car slides off line, it loses momentum and risks picking up punctures.

"Cyprus is hard on tyres. The roads are abrasive and there is so much acceleration out of corners that there is always the danger of excessive wheelspin. It's necessary to look after the tyres to ensure they are still working to the maximum towards the end of a group of stages. It's also important for an engine to have good torque to make the most from the constant acceleration," added Gardemeister.

Kresta, who claimed a career-best finish on the last round in Italy, has competed in Cyprus just once, in 2002 when conditions were unusually wet. "I have in-car video footage from that year and some of the stages are exactly the same as this year. Before I go out there I will watch the video and get my mind focused on the type of roads that we will experience," he said.

"The roads are rough and twisty and in places they are similar to the kind of stages we have just driven in Sardinia. It will be important to keep a smooth line because there are plenty of stones on the edge of the road. A good car for Cyprus needs good throttle response, good torque, good suspension and good tyres. The roads are hard on tyres but I think Michelin proved on the toughest stages in Sardinia that it has the rubber which will be good for Cyprus. It's a tough rally for drivers as well because the high temperatures mean it's hot in the car and the low speeds provide little air flow through the cockpit.

"The Focus is also well-suited to this kind of rally. It's easy to drive on the slower sections and you don't need an aggressive style, so there is not the risk of pushing too hard and losing the line and time," he added.

Ford geared up for more tough stuff


After claiming a record-breaking 50th consecutive points finish in the FIA World Rally Championship on the toughest round of the season in Cyprus earlier this month, Ford aims to start its second half century on an event only marginally less arduous. The Rally of Turkey (2 - 5 June) is the second episode of a trilogy of hot weather, rough road gravel events in the eastern Mediterranean, all of which place high demands on both cars and drivers.

The harsh environment of the Anatolian mountains above Turkey's southern coast traditionally takes a high toll on competitors. This seventh round of the championship is unlikely to be as rough as the savage car-breaking roads encountered in Cyprus. The twisty, steep tracks generally have a softer, muddier base but they tend to cut up quite easily, becoming rutted and exposing large rocks on the ideal driving line.

Temperatures in the rally base at Kemer are likely to exceed 30°C. The speed tests climb to a maximum of 1800 metres so it will be cooler in the mountains, but average speeds are relatively slow and there will be little airflow to cool hard working engines, transmissions and drivers. However, recent rain in the region and the forecast of more to come threatens to provide surprise conditions, making tyre nomination difficult and swelling the many water crossings.

The rally will be a step into the unknown for the BP-Ford World Rally Team, which currently lies third in the manufacturers' championship with the Focus RS World Rally Car. Toni Gardemeister and Jakke Honkanen, who are fourth in the drivers' standings, finished seventh on the rally's maiden championship appearance in 2003. However, that was in early March when the region was just emerging from severe winter storms which devastated the roads and snow patches lay alongside the tracks. Team-mates Roman Kresta and Jan Možný have never competed there.

The Focus RS has an excellent reputation for reliability and strength on rough events, one which 30-year-old Gardemeister hopes to use to his advantage. "I think a podium finish is very realistic," he said. "We missed out on a podium place on each of the last two rallies through bad luck. But the performance of the Focus on those events gives me great motivation for both this rally and the next in Greece, which is another rough event.

"I finished seventh here two years ago but conditions will be totally different this year. There was snow alongside some roads and very few of the stages are the same so I will treat it like a new rally. It's similar to Cyprus, except that the roads are a lot wider and not as twisty, so it's faster. But I remember it being very rough, and although that was after a bad winter, I'm sure it will still be hard on cars," he added.

Kresta's cautious approach to the last two rallies paid dividends. The 29-year-old Czech scored career-best sixth places in both Sardinia and Cyprus, both of which were hot, rough road events. "I've never been to Turkey before, not even on holiday," he said. "So I will follow the same tactics I used in the last two rallies. I'll drive cautiously, at a speed with which I'm comfortable and aim for another solid result. I want maximum experience of the roads and maximum kilometres in the Focus on gravel. Both are important for me so I hope a sensible pace will pay off. To drive flat out in rough conditions risks technical problems and punctures, as we saw on the last two rallies.

"As everything will be new to me, it's difficult to know what is the best set-up for the Focus. I learned a lot in Cyprus and had a good feeling with the car in similar conditions. I've spoken with many people whose advice is that Turkey is rougher than the Acropolis Rally in Greece but not as bad as Cyprus. So I'll start with the same set-up and see how I progress," he added.

Hirvonen to return to the Ford fold for Finland

By Tom Haapanen - Motorsport.com

Ford today named Mikko Hirvonen as its second nominated driver for Rally Finland, joining Toni Gardemeister as the two drivers eligible to score points for the World Rally Championship manufacturers' title. Hirvonen will now return to the team he drove for in 2003 as the third works driver.

 
Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen. Photo by Ford Motor Company.
 
According to Malcolm Wilson, the team director of the BP-Ford WRC team, the defining factor was Hirvonen's outstanding performance on Acropolis Rally, where he finished fifth with co-pilot Jarmo Lehtinen in a 2003-spec Ford Focus.

"Mikko has shown excellent speed on both the Rally Italia Sardinia and the Acropolis Rally of Greece in a car that is two years old," Wilson explained. "The Rally Finland is the most specialised event in the championship and it takes several years' experience of the roads there before a driver can hope to be truly competitive. Mikko grew up on Finnish roads and the combination of his understanding of the nature of the stages and his speed means he deserves his chance."

Hirvonen has been one of the most positive surprises of the 2005 season, running consistently well in a privateer Focus WRC. The expectations had been low, as he had struggled from time to time in 2004, and subsequently lost his Subaru WRC drive to Stephane Sarrazin for the 2005 season.

"This is fantastic, and a huge vote of confidence for me," Hirvonen beamed. "I am totally committed to getting the very best possible result for Ford and, personally for Malcolm. Returning to the Ford team means I will be working with old friends so there will be no problems in settling in. I haven't driven the 2005-specification Focus RS before but I will have a day's testing in Finland before the rally to enable me to get used to it."

Hirvonen scored the stage win on the Acropolis opening stage, thus taking a (short-lived) lead in the rally, and ended the rally in a creditable fifth place in a privately-entered Ford Focus WRC 2003, beating out Mitsubishi pilot Harri Rovanpera. The second Ford works entry, with Roman Kresta and Jan Mozny, retired twice, first due to running off road, and for the second time due to an electrical fault.

Kresta will still take part in Rally Finland in a works BP-Ford entry -- albeit a 2003-specification one -- but not as a nominated driver, taking the pressure off the young Czech pilot.

"This will help Roman come to terms with a rally that is new to him," Wilson explained the rationale. "He can discover the characteristics of the Finnish roads at his own pace without having to worry about pushing to score points for Ford. He has shown this season that he is a quick learner and this way, he can concentrate fully on gaining as much experience as possible."

Hirvonen, on the other hand, will be looking to get to the end of Rally Finland, as he has only finished in 2002, with retirements in 2003 and 2004. And he'll surely be hoping that this year again, as so often in the past, "to finish first, first you must be Finnish ..."

BP-Ford focuses on flying Finns



BP-Ford World Rally Team plans to maximise local experience when it lines up for arguably the most specialised event in the FIA World Rally Championship in Finland next week. The team has recruited Finns Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen to join fellow countrymen Toni Gardemeister and Jakke Honkanen behind the wheel of Focus RS World Rally Cars as Ford's nominated drivers for the Rally Finland (4 - 7 August).

This 10th round of the series is based on dauntingly fast, roller-coaster gravel speed tests that are unique to Finland. Drivers who have grown up on these type of roads have a clear advantage over 'outsiders', who require several years' experience before they can hope to become competitive. It is such a big benefit that only three non-Nordic drivers have ever won in the 54-year history of the event, and Finns have triumphed on 47 occasions.

BP-Ford's regular second pairing, Roman Kresta and Jan Možný, have never competed in Finland before. The Czechs will drive a BP Ultimate-branded 2003-specification car this year as they concentrate on learning the characteristics of the speed tests, leaving Gardemeister and Hirvonen to fight for team points to consolidate Ford's third place in the manufacturers' standings.

Finland is viewed as rallying's spiritual home. The wide, hard roads are as smooth as a billiard table and guarantee breathtaking speeds. Last year's rally was won at an incredible average of 122.62kph. Spectacular jumps and stunning scenery among the lakes and forests act as a magnet to fans and huge crowds provide a great atmosphere.

Technically, it is an incredibly difficult rally. Precision driving and bravery are more important here than anywhere else. The awesome switchback jumps frequently hide bends just over the crest so the accuracy and delivery of pace notes must be extremely precise.

This will be the 10th Rally Finland for 30-year-old Gardemeister, for whom a top three result in his Castrol-branded Focus RS would mean much. "Monte Carlo and Finland are the two rallies where a top result is special," he said. "And, being a Finn, it would mean a lot to me to finish on the podium. It will be a difficult event because there are so many fast drivers. But it will be exciting to drive on my own roads, in front of my own fans, with the prospect of obtaining a good finish.

"I know most of the stages quite well and there are only a few roads that I'm not so familiar with. I'm used to the Finnish roads so they don't seem so difficult to me. The most important aspect is not to lose momentum. They are so fast that lifting off the throttle, even briefly, can cost a lot of time. The Focus finished second here last year. It has not changed so much since then so it should still be well-suited to this event," he added.

Hirvonen drove a Focus RS with the official Ford team in the 2003 championship. He has returned to the driving seat of the car again this season, piloting a privately-entered Focus RS to fifth on the Acropolis Rally of Greece last month after leading during the opening leg. Hirvonen, who celebrates his 25th birthday on Sunday, lives in the rally base of Jyväskylä and is keen to make the most of his Ford nomination.

"It means a great deal to me that I have factory support again for my home rally," he said. "I know everyone in the team, I work well with them all and I'm so happy to be back. I've never driven the current specification Focus RS and there are many things that will be different compared to the 2003 car that I've been driving. But I have a day's testing on Sunday and I think that will be enough to learn. I know already that the Focus suits my driving style and my target is to score points for Ford and to be as close as I can to Toni at the top of the leaderboard. If I'm close to him, then I can be in the top five.

"There are two things that have to be absolutely right for this rally. It's important to be 100 per cent sure of how the car handles and a driver has to get the correct driving line over the crests. The stages are so fast that good confidence is vital and that comes with a car that handles well. And before taking off over a jump, a driver needs to know where he is going to land. Once you're in the air, it's too late to change your mind! There is no room for mistakes," he added.

Kresta's only experience of the Finnish roads came in 2002 when he tackled the recce. "It's a very, very special event," he said. "It's impossible to develop a full idea of the nature of the roads until you drive them at a competitive speed. But from that recce, I could see just how hard they are to master. They're incredibly fast and flowing and they look fantastic to drive. But driving quickly and driving competitively are different, and I understand why people say that it takes several visits to this rally before a driver can become competitive. It's important for me to drive quickly, but cautiously, so that I can finish and gain as much experience as possible.

BP-FORD WELCOMES BACK TOMÁNEK ALONGSIDE KRESTA

Manufacturer: Ford
Press Release Type: Pre-event Release

Jan Tománek, Roman Kresta's former co-driver, has been reinstated by the Czech driver at the BP-Ford World Rally Team with immediate effect. Tománek was forced to stand down in February of this year on medical grounds, but is now back to full health following a significant rest and recovery period. Jan Možny, who has been co-driving Kresta in the interim period, is stepping down.
Tománek had been suffering from neck pain for some time. He took medical advice following the Swedish Rally earlier this year and was advised to take a break to prevent the possibility of more serious injuries in the event of an accident. However, he has now been cleared by Czech doctors and is fit to continue his 12-year co-driving career alongside Kresta.

Thirty-year-old Možný, from Prague, had been part of Kresta's safety crew since 2003 and worked with the BP-Ford team in that role on this year's Monte Carlo Rally in January before being drafted in to replace Tománek at short notice before Rally Mexico in March. He will continue to work with Kresta and Tománek as their safety crew on future events.

"I would like to thank Jan (Možný) for all his help, support and hard work during the last eight events while Jan (Tománek) has been recuperating . However, Jan partnered me on 19 of my world championship starts, we worked well as a team together for two years of my career and I'm looking forward to welcoming him back into the car with me. I hope we can pick up where we left off in Sweden," commented Kresta.

Thirty-two-year old Tománek from Otrokovice, near Zlin said. "It was a huge disappointment to me to have to stand down earlier in the year. All of my world championship starts have been with Roman and I'm very much looking forward to getting back into the Focus RS with him in Germany and working with the BP-Ford team again. We've got two days testing this weekend and I'm sure I'll settle back into the car quickly."

Tománek will fly to Germany tomorrow (Friday) to begin testing with the BP-Ford team alongside Kresta in preparation for Rallye Deutschland in two weeks time.

All-New Ford Focus Rally Car: Technology and Intelligent Solutions



Ford of Europe officially unveiled the all-new Ford Focus RS World Rally Car 06 at the 2005 Bologna Motor Show in Italy. The car will be Ford's challenger in the FIA World Rally Championship from 2006 onwards and was unveiled in the eye-catching livery in which it will make its full competitive debut in January's Monte Carlo Rally.

It is based on the high-performance Ford Focus ST road car, which is being launched across Europe this autumn. The new Focus RS WRC 06 has been designed and built in less than 11 months by an experienced and innovative engineering team led by Christian Loriaux, technical director at British-based company M-Sport which operates the Blue Oval's WRC programme. His team has worked closely in the development with Ford TeamRS, Ford of Europe's performance road car and motorsport arm.

Engine

Although the Focus ST model on which the World Rally Car is based uses a 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine, rallying rules do not permit an engine of that size. However, the regulations do allow teams to use another engine from elsewhere in the Ford Focus model range, so M-Sport opted for the 2.0-litre Duratec unit, with the addition of a turbocharger and the mandatory 34 mm inlet restrictor. French engine specialist Pipo Moteur was employed to assist with the initial development of the new unit. M-Sport also used its own in-house transient dynamometer and made use of data from Ford TeamRS to fine-tune the specification. One advantage over the outgoing rally car is that the new engine has an all-alloy block. This allows for a reduction in weight and also a transfer of weight away from a relatively high position, thereby helping to lower the car's centre of gravity.

Suspension

The new Focus RS WRC 06's suspension is a further development of the type used on the 2004-specification car, although rule changes forced M-Sport's engineers to make revisions.

To help reduce costs in world rallying, the use of expensive materials such as titanium is now severely restricted, and Ford's engineers had to find a substitute that was strong without adding too much weight. The suspension continues to use Reiger dampers. Representatives from the Dutch firm liaised with Loriaux and his staff during the design phase, and were also present during the first few miles of testing to help with the initial set-up. "Under WRC rules there are such tight restrictions on the amount of power that the engine can produce that elements like the suspension have become even more important," said Loriaux. "We worked hard to strike a balance between handling and traction." Suspension parts were tested on a 2004-specification Focus RS WRC in rough conditions before the design was finalized.

Transmission

M-Sport's transmission consultant Ricardo played a key role in the development of the new car, since the new rules forbid the use of computer-controlled front and rear differentials. Instead, only the centre differential features this level of technology, with regular mechanical units at the front and rear. The fact that more of the system is now beyond computer control has only heightened the importance of arriving at a robust initial set-up. "Some of the restrictions on materials affected this side of the design too," said Loriaux. "The propshaft is now steel, for example. But that means it has to be slightly wider to retain strength, so the transmission tunnel had to be made slightly larger to accommodate it."

Gearbox

The Ford Focus RS WRC 06 features a considerable amount of change in its gearbox from the previous model, not only in specification but also in layout. The original Focus WRC (introduced in 1999) mated a longitudinal gearbox to a transverse engine, an engineering feat in itself. But for the new car, Loriaux decided to use a transverse gearbox along with the transverse engine. "I think there are benefits in packaging but also there should be less loss through friction," he said. The new Ricardo-developed gearbox will have five gears, not six like the outgoing model. "Reducing the number of gears allows us to make a small weight saving and also a saving in terms of size of the gearbox itself," said Loriaux. "We think that with the 34 mm air restrictor on the turbocharger, as specified by the rules, the engine's low-down strength and torque mean a five-speed unit will be as effective as a six-speed one. After all, with six speeds you do lose a little more time through more frequent changes anyway."

Weight Distribution

Loriaux is renowned for his innovative design approach to lowering the centre of gravity in rally machinery. Many of the trends seen on today's cars, such as the crew sitting particularly low in the cabin, can be attributed to Loriaux's earlier designs. From the earliest drawings of this new car, he has again been determined to set new trends.

"A low centre of gravity helps with handling, balance and steering feedback," said Loriaux. "We've tried to make the engine as low as possible and with no compromises in the layout, to help achieve that." Some of the more radical solutions will remain secret, but no element of the car's layout or design has escaped intense scrutiny as far as weight distribution is concerned.

Rallye Monte Carlo winner Ford takes its FIA World Rally Championship lead to the Scandinavian winter next week when the Swedish Rally (2 - 5 February) presents the team with a rapid opportunity to build on its victorious start to the season. As Finns, opening round winners Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen and team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen will feel comfortable in the snow and ice which makes this one of the most specialised rounds of the year.

Both will drive the 2006-specification Ford Focus RS World Rally Car which won on its first full competitive outing in the French Alps earlier this month to power Grönholm and the BP-Ford World Rally Team into the lead of the drivers' and manufacturers' standings. Both tested in Sweden before Christmas, the first time either had climbed behind the wheel of the new car.

Central Sweden's numbing cold and barren, ice-bound countryside traditionally provides the harshest environment of the season and a cruel contrast to the glitz of Monte Carlo. It is also a rally that suits the northern Europeans and only one-non-Nordic driver has won in the 43-year history of the event.

It is the only pure winter rally of the 16-round series, but still one of the fastest and the winner's average speed topped 111kph in 2005. The fast, flowing, frozen roads are a drivers' delight and BFGoodrich's skinny tyres fitted with tungsten-tipped steel studs will bite into the icy surface to provide incredible grip on the Focus RS cars. The Värmland region is reported to have plenty of snow with temperatures several degrees below freezing - the type of weather that should provide classic Swedish Rally conditions.

It is Grönholm's favourite rally, and one that he was won three times from 13 starts, and he would love nothing more than to celebrate his 38th birthday on the winners' podium on Sunday afternoon. "There's no doubt, the best way to celebrate my birthday would be with champagne on the winner's podium, but we have a lot of work to do before I can think about that," he said. "Sweden is the best rally in the championship when the conditions are good. To drive flat out on the snow and ice with such good grip from the studded tyres is really enjoyable. The car seems to float across the surface."

"It's not so different driving on snow and ice compared with gravel. On the longer stages it is important to look after the tyres because if the studs start to pull out or move around, then you have to ease the pace. I had a good feeling with the Focus RS in the test and I hope to regain that during the shakedown ahead of the start on Thursday morning," he added.

The cold weather should ensure that the frozen snow banks which line the forest tracks are there to provide a safety net for drivers. Drivers often 'lean' their cars into them to guide them around corners at maximum speed.

"I don't try to use them that much but when you enter a corner too fast they can be a help. The problem is that a driver can't rely on them. If temperatures aren't cold enough to freeze the snow properly, instead of bouncing off the banks, cars can be dragged into the snow or plough through them and off the road," added Grönholm.

This will be Hirvonen's fourth start in Sweden and the 25-year-old is confident of a strong result. "I really enjoy this event and I will push hard from the start," he said. "I think it's possible to fight for a podium. If there is fresh snow overnight on Thursday, then we have an excellent start position for Friday. It will allow the new snow to be cleared off the road and give us a cleaner drive."

"In winter conditions a driver can afford to let the tyres do more of the work than on gravel. You can slide the car more than and the studs are so good that in some places the grip is just as good as on a loose gravel surface," added Hirvonen.

Team News

BP-Ford will use BFGoodrich's g-Force ice tyres in Sweden. The single type of tread pattern is available with normal studs for full ice conditions and short studs for ice and frozen gravel.

The team completed a three-day rough gravel test at Chateau Lastours in southern France following the Rallye Monte Carlo. Hirvonen covered 450km over three days, the first time the Finn has sampled the new Focus RS WRC on gravel. He concentrated on reliability work.

The privately run Stobart-VK-M-Sport Ford Rally Team has entered three 2004-specification Focus RS WRCs. Britain's Matt Wilson / Michael Orr and Finns Kosti Katajamäki / Timo Alane will be nominated for manufacturer points while Argentines Luis Perez Companc / Jose Maria Volta will drive a third car. Norway's Thomas Schie / Göran Bergsten will be behind the wheel of a 2003 Focus RS. Estonian driver Jaan Mölder and Germany's Katrin Becker will drive a Ford Fiesta Super 1600 on what is the opening round of the FIA Junior World Rally Championship.

Rally Route
The rally follows a similar format to 2005 with all three legs based around the single service park of Hagfors, 80km north of the rally base in Karlstad, Värmland's capital city. The major difference is that although the start ceremony and finish remain in Karlstad, the overnight parc ferme will be in Hagfors. All stages except one will be used twice and there will be no new tests, although several have slightly modified routes from 2005. Both opening days end with the near-40km Vargåsen test, the longest of the rally, and a sprint test at Hagfors ski stadium. Drivers face 19 stages in total covering 349.02km in a route of 1441.16km.

Press Release Ford

The Rally d'Italia-Sardegna (18 - 21 May) provides the first opportunity for the BP-Ford World Rally Team to showcase the new generation Focus RS World Rally Car on a gravel event in Europe. Although the FIA World Rally Championship season is nearing the halfway point, with the Sardinia event being round seven of 16, remarkably this is the first European dirt rally of the campaign and the first of six in the series.



However, the Focus RS WRC has already shown its credentials on gravel rallies in Mexico and Argentina.  Both Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen and team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen held top three places on the opening day in Mexico.  And Grönholm led for much of the first leg in Argentina last month, going on to win more speed tests than any other driver.

Although the Mediterranean holiday island is a relative newcomer to the championship (this is the rally's third year in the WRC), the characteristics of the Sardinian roads are well known by the BP-Ford drivers.  Grönholm and Hirvonen competed there in 2004 and 2005 and both tested widely in two separate sessions there during the past six weeks.

The rally is based in the industrial town of Olbia, in the north of the island, and starts and finishes in Porto Cervo, one of Europe's most exclusive resorts.  The gravel special stages contain a mix of narrow, twisty roads and fast and flowing tracks that put the event into the medium-fast category.  A fine sandy surface masks a hard base beneath and the early starters will sweep the loose gravel clear to leave a cleaner driving line for those behind.

The hard surface and air temperatures that are forecast to climb into the high 20s will demand strong durability from the Focus RS cars' BFGoodrich tyres.  BP-Ford will have new construction rubber, designed to improve precision on average and high-speed corners, with which Grönholm and Hirvonen were impressed during testing.

Thirty-eight-year-old Grönholm, who lies second in the drivers' championship, finished third in Sardinia last year.  "The rally has a mix of everything," he said.  "Some of the stages are quite tight while others are more open and faster.  Quite a lot of the competitive distance is new for this year and I think these roads will be faster than the ones that have been dropped.  It's not one of my favourite rallies but neither is it one that I really dislike.

"It's important to score good points here and my target is clear - to win.  The car has shown it is fast on gravel but my mistake in Mexico and a problem in Argentina meant that I didn't score the points I feel we deserved.  But it's also important to remember that this is still a new car and we continue to fine-tune it as the season progresses.  This will be the first time in competition in Sardinia with this Focus RS and I'm sure we will learn more about it during the event," added the Finn.

Hirvonen surprised many in Sardinia last year by taking the challenge to world champion Sébastien Loeb in a privately-entered Focus RS on the opening leg - which he ended in third.  "Last year was good for me until I made a mistake on the second day," said the 25-year-old Finn.  "I had a good start position which meant the roads had been cleaned of gravel by the time I started the stages.  I have a good start position again this year and I hope this will give me an advantage on the opening morning.  I prefer the wider roads because when it's narrow and there are bushes and rocks close to the edge of the road, it's difficult to make pace notes.  The temptation is to put as much as possible into the notes but then I find that there is too much in there. 

"The tyres will be important.  I think it's going to be hot and the heat and hard roads mean that endurance will be vital.  We have some new tyres available which will be good.  It's not easy for BFGoodrich to improve its tyres because they are already very good, but I was pleased with these during the tests.  They seem faster in every area," he added.

Youngest-ever WRC driver points scorer Matthew Wilson and the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team head to Sardinia this coming weekend for the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Rally d’Italia Sardegna, with the aim of beating their last result of two cars in the top ten.



Rally Argentina saw 19 year-old Cumbrian Wilson become the youngest driver to score a WRC driver point and also become the youngest driver to set the fastest time on a WRC stage. Wilson finished in eighth place in the overall standings, just pipping team-mate Luis Perez Companc to the position in the final stage of the event.

The Italian round of the WRC presents a similiarly natured gravel challenge to Argentina and the Stobart WRC team is boosted by 33% for this event as Wilson and co-driver Michael Orr are joined not only by Companc, but also by the Finnish crew of Kosti Katajamaki and Timo Alanne.

Katajamaki drove with the team in February in Uddeholm Rally Sweden, finishing sixth in the overall standings so a dream result for the squad would be three Stobart Ford Focus RS WRCs in the top ten

The island of Sardinia may present the team with stages which are of similar nature to those which suited the team so well last time out, but the spectacular mountain scenery means there are big drops should anyone run wide and it is expected to be a rally where the cars will be under constant onslaught from the large rocks on the stages; it is expected to be a rally of attrition.

Rally d’Italia Sardegna is the first gravel rally in Europe and the third time the WRC has visited the location although this year the event features new stages. The rally is based in Olbia in the north of the island, and starts and finishes in holiday destination Porto Cervo, one of Europe's most expensive resorts.

It's not only Stobart WRC cars in action in Italy either. Scot Barry Clark and Brit Scott Martin come fresh from their S1600 victory in the opening round of the British Rally Championship and will be contesting both the FIA Junior World Rally Championship and the Fiesta SportingTrophy International in their GpN Ford Fiesta ST.

Rally d'Italia Sardegna runs from May 19-21. The following round of the FIA World Rally Championship is the BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally on June 2-4.

Stobart VK M-sport Ford Rally Team driver Matthew Wilson says: "I've never been to Sardinia before. I was meant to be there last year but I ended up watching the result from my hospital bed as it was a week after my big accident in Rally of Wales. I've never seen the stages before in person, only on tele but we should get a good idea on the recce."

Stobart VK M-sport Ford Rally Team driver Luis Perez Companc says: "I am looking forward to Sardinia as I am more confident with the car, every time I drive it I am learning more. Gravel is my favourite surface so it should be good for me."

Stobart VK M-sport Ford Rally Team driver Kosti Katajamaki says: "It seems like a long time since the Swedish Rally. It will be my third time in Rally Sardinia but the stages this year are totally different. I've been busy doing work for my sponsors and some driving in a Group N car which is very different from the Focus. I'm very happy to be driving in Sardinia and I'll be driving as fast as possible."

Stobart VK Rally Team driver Barry Clark says: "It was a surprise result getting the S1600 win in the Pirelli International Rally. I've never been to Sardinia before but it's great having two gravel rallies straight after each other. It's quite a change going from the S1600 to the GpN Fiesta ST as there's not as much power to pull you through the corners but I'm looking forward to it."

Stobart VK M-sport Ford Rally team principal Malcolm Wilson says: "The good thing is Rally Argentina was only two weeks ago so that event is fresh in the minds of Matthew and Luis Perez. I think both should go well in Sardinia because of that. In many ways it is very similar to the last rally; it's a sandy base like some of the stages in Argentina and there's big rocks as well. In real terms the two gravel events are probably the closest linked in the WRC in terms of conditions."

Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team driver Matthew Wilson finished Rally d'Italia Sardegna in a lowly 34th position after an event the 19 year-old Cumbrian could truly describe as 'character building' after his fastest stage time and point score in Rally Argentina – where Wilson became the youngest-ever driver to achieve those feats.

Before Wilson began the seventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship he was on the back foot after being served a one minute time penalty for having the engine in his Ford Focus RS WRC 05 changed. Under the championship regulations an engine must be used for at least two consecutive events, and after a slight water leak from the joint between the head and the cylinder was discovered the M-Sport squad opted to change for a new engine to ensure Wilson could complete the event.

With all to make back Wilson didn't have long before his event got worse, when contact with a rock on the very first stage of the rally bent the rear left suspension upright of his car meaning Wilson and co-driver Michael Orr had to crawl through Friday morning's stages. With the car repaired in the service stop the hope was for a steady afternoon, but a problem with the engine's Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and then the fly-by-wire throttle control meant Wilson had slow runs through the majority of the afternoon's stages too.

Saturday saw Wilson complete all the stages at a steady pace and without mechanical problem with the crew relieved that their terrible start to the event was behind them. The final day saw Wilson push a little harder, but all the time aware that a good result was way out of reach and his car would be used in the BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally in two weeks time.

Kosti Katajamaki in the second manufacturer points registered Stobart Focus looked promising for a top ten finish after ending the first leg in tenth in the overall standings. This result was achieved despite the challenge of throttle problems in Friday's morning stages. Katajamaki's rally came to an end on Saturday morning when the Finn didn't hear a pace note and rolled his car twice, hitting a tree in the process. Although Katajamaki and co-driver Timo Alanne were unhurt their car is no suitable for use by the pairing in their next event.

Luis Perez Companc in the third Stobart Focus, not registered for manufacturer points for this event, enjoyed a steady run through the three days and ended the event in 12th place in the overall standings.

Barry Clark in the Stobart VK Rally Team Ford Fiesta ST had a storming rally, setting fastest Rookie stage times in the Junior World Rally Championship and also in the Fiesta SportingTrophy International series. Clark staged an impressive comeback after driveshaft failure in SS4 on Friday and ended the event as the second Rookie in the J-WRC.

The Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team will next contest the twisty mountain stages of the BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally which takes place on June 2-4. Matthew Wilson and Kosti Katajamaki will be driving for the team in this event.

Stobart VK M-sport Ford Rally Team driver Matthew Wilson says:

"It's been a mixed rally. Sunday went quite well as it was the first clean run we had and the stages were good; fast and not too rough apart from the last one which was rough so we eased off. The car's in reasonably good condition and we wanted to keep it that way for Greece. We got to the end of the rally and that was the main objective. Pretty much every stage today we've been at a good pace and I think without the one minute penalty, and if we scrapped Friday, we'd have been in the top ten. It's a shame we had the first day that we did, but there's always Greece to look forward to."

Stobart VK M-sport Ford Rally Team driver Kosti Katajamaki says:

"I hit a rock in the Saturday morning but everything was okay although the engine stopped and took eight seconds to restart. It was more slippery than I expected, I went a little bit too wide and hit the rock in the morning. I was hoping it would be a little bit cleaner the second time through, but I didn't hear a pace note and that was my rally over."

Stobart VK M-sport Ford Rally Team driver Luis Perez Companc says:

"It was a very tough rally. I didn't think it was going to be so tough. When we did the pace notes with the recce car it seemed like nice roads with some parts fast and some parts twisty, but nice roads. But then in the rally car it was all change. The first day was very tough for me, the second day on the second leg was very good and I felt very comfortable with the car and the times were good. On the third day I just kept the car in one piece. It was a good rally for me."

Stobart VK Rally Team driver Barry Clark says:

"We've set quickest times in the stages where we haven't had a problem in both the Fiestas and of the Rookies. It's been mighty rough on the stages. We had a puncture on the rear then a puncture on the front on the last day. The steering arm was bent, the rear beam was bent, the car had such a pounding over the whole weekend but it got us here to the end of the rally so that's a great result."

Stobart VK M-sport Ford Rally team principal Malcolm Wilson says:

"The important thing for Matthew on this event was for him to get through all the stages. That is the big plus as far as I'm concerned. I'm not bothered about the pace, certainly in view of what happened on the first day. It was important for him to preserve his car for the Acropolis Rally and also for him to get the knowledge of these stages for the future. There's a lot of positives that he kept his head after the event on Friday, a lot of 19 year-olds would have wanted to go out and prove something to the world after that, but he did exactly the job that he needed to do."

BP-Ford World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen scored the best result of their careers by finishing second on the Rally d'Italia Sardegna today. The Finns took no risks in their Ford Focus RS World Rally Car during the final leg of this seventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship to better their third place in Spain last year.

The result moved 25-year-old Hirvonen up to sixth in the drivers' championship, while BP-Ford strengthened its grip on second in the manufacturers' standings.  Team-mates Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen retired from the lead yesterday morning after hitting a rock and losing all the oil from their car's engine.  They remain second in the points table.

Searing temperatures in the north of the Mediterranean island, which reached 34¢ªC in the shade on the opening leg, and massive clouds of dust characterised this three-day event.  Competitors tackled 344.94km of competition and the gravel tracks, which ranged from smooth to rocky and badly rutted, took a heavy toll on the 79 starters.  Only 28 completed the entire route.

Today's final leg north of the rally base in Olbia was a real sting in the tail.  Drivers faced six stages covering 77.94km with no opportunity for service once the action began.  Hirvonen started with a comfortable 39.0sec advantage over third-placed Dani Sordo and adopted a cautious policy throughout, with no opportunity to catch the leader.  Nevertheless, he still posted two second fastest stage times and extended his margin over the Spaniard to 46.3sec.

"Finally everything has come together for me this weekend and it feels fantastic to finish second on a WRC event with a factory team for the first time," he said.  "I just have one more step to reach the top level of the podium.  It was a long and difficult weekend and I was nervous all day in case anything went wrong.  I had just one problem yesterday but that was my mistake when I touched a bank.  The roads were rougher then they looked on the recce but they were enjoyable to drive. 

"Sardinia is a good island for me and it seems to have a good history for Finns.  More than anything this weekend I have learned how to drive in these conditions without taking any risks and yet still achieve a good result.  Previously when I have been chasing a podium I have had to push all the way, but here I was able to drive at a speed with which I was comfortable," he added.

BP-Ford team director Malcolm Wilson was delighted with both Hirvonen's performance and that of the Focus RS.  "Marcus won five of the seven stages before his retirement which gives a clear indication of the car's pace.  Mikko delivered a powerful performance.  Nobody can complain about finishing second to Loeb.  He is becoming stronger with every event and looking to the rest of the season I feel confident as our driver line-up is improving and the team continues to move forward," he said.   

Jost Capito, director of Ford TeamRS said: "I'm really happy for Mikko to achieve his career-best result, especially the mature way in which he secured it for a 25-year-old.  Marcus' retirement was disappointing but his performance with the new Ford Focus RS WRC encourages us for the forthcoming events."

Irish duo Gareth MacHale and Paul Nagle were 11th in a privately-entered Focus RS, one place ahead of the similar 2004-specification car of Argentines Luis Perez Companc and Jose-Maria Volta.  Matthew Wilson and Michael Orr were 34th in a Stobart VK M-Sport entered Focus RS after suspension and fly-by-wire throttle troubles on the opening day cost 45 minutes.