Racing

Ford Racing is bringing the Fiesta R2 rally kit to the U.S., developed by M-Sport, a move expected to thrill rally enthusiasts across the country.
The R2 package offers several performance upgrades to give competitors a turnkey, rally-ready Fiesta, including powertrain enhancements that pump out 168 horsepower and 134 lb.-ft. of torque
New Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship will debut in RallyCar’s Rally America Series 2WD class for 2011, designed specifically for competitors who have the Fiesta R2 package installed by Team O’Neil

LAS VEGAS , Nov. 2, 2010 – For rally fans looking to imitate what successful Ford rally drivers Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latlava and Ken Block have accomplished, a new Fiesta R2 rally package is the place to start.

Currently available throughout Europe, Ford Racing is bringing the competition-ready package stateside to let enthusiasts turn their five-door Fiesta into a Fiesta R2 that’s ready to compete on the roads of RallyCar’s Rally America National Championship. The package is now available for order through Team O’Neil Motorsports, a division of Team O’Neil Rally School in New Hampshire (info@teamoneil.com ).

The spirit of One Ford is making it possible for us to bring the best of European rally racing to competitors in the U.S.,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsport. “The Fiesta R2 has already proven itself in Europe as a great platform for aspiring rally drivers.”

The winner of the 2011 U.S. Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship will also have the opportunity to compete in the R2 class during next year’s Wales Rally GB.

Developed by M-Sport, Ford’s WRC associate since 1997, the kit will convert a production Fiesta to rally specification. Included in the package are engine parts that will increase the performance of the 1.6-liter Ti-VCT four-cylinder engine: pistons, conrods, camshafts, valve springs, injectors, airbox, air filter and a sump baffle kit. The performance enhancements deliver 168 horsepower and 134 lb.-ft. of torque, a 40 percent increase in horsepower over the production Fiesta.

Other upgrades include:

Five-speed Sadev sequential gearbox with flat shift gear cut
Reiger adjustable dampers with Eibach springs
Ventilated disc brakes with AP four-piston competition calipers
T45 steel multipoint roll cage

Team O’Neil Motorsports is the official reseller and authorized installer for the R2 kits. Only cars prepared by Team O’Neil will be eligible for the U.S. Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship.

“The R2 kit provides a fantastic performance and dynamic upgrade for the already strong and light Fiesta platform, transforming it into an instantly competitive and durable rally car,” said Tim O’Neil, founder and president. “We’re really excited to be able to offer this to North American rally drivers.”

In addition to the full R2 kit, Ford Racing will also offer a Stage 1 kit based on the R2 package.

The Stage 1 kit will include parts designed for the rigors of rallying, including a roll cage, ball joints, engine performance upgrades, dampers and a limited-slip differential. The package will offer competitors a lower-cost entry point to take a Fiesta rallying.

New Fiesta Sport Trophy class
Enthusiasts who add the R2 package to their Fiesta will have the ability to compete in the Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship in RallyCar’s Rally America National Championship 2WD class in 2011. The winner of the Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship will be awarded a ride in the R2 class in a Fiesta at Wales Rally GB. Additionally, the winner from the class will have the opportunity to compete in the Fiesta SportTrophy International Shootout in Great Britain for a chance to win a year’s residential placement at M-Sport, working with the BP Ford World Rally team.

“Over the last two years, Ford Racing and the Fiesta have made a significant impact in the AWD Open class of RallyCar’s Rally America, at X Games and in the debut of RallyCross,” said JB Niday, managing director of RallyCar. “To see that emphasis expand into the 2WD class with an opportunity like the Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship is a tremendous indicator of the value placed on the Fiesta program and the commitment to growing Fiesta through rally by Ford.”

The rally kit also is the perfect way for enthusiasts to appreciate all that the Fiesta offers.

“Not only are we offering rally enthusiasts a way to experience the full capabilities of Fiesta, but we’re also giving them an amazing opportunity to test their skills in Europe on their way to perhaps realizing a dream of competing in the WRC,” said Allison.

- Team O’Neil website

Tags: Fiesta, Ford, Kit, Parts, R1, R2, Racing, Rally

Ford Fiesta Gynkhana

Ken Block will drive a custom-built Fiesta for the next chapter in his series of Gymkhana videos that have become an Internet phenomenon with more than 30 million views
The new fun-to-drive 2011 Ford Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, with sharp reflexes and a global track record that will redefine U.S. small car customers’ expectations
The Ford Fiesta goes on sale this summer, while the new Gymkhana THREE video is coming soon

SAN FRANCISCO, April 21, 2010 – In the fall of 2008 Ken Block released a “just for fun” video that took the Internet by storm. It was the launch of Gymkhana, a term and event that has become synonymous with Block. With more than 30 million YouTube views, it has helped establish Block as one of the most high-profile global motorsports stars today.

For Monster World Rally Team driver Block, the opportunity to push the limits of his car control while maneuvering around a series of cones, slaloms, 180-degree and 360-degree and figure-eight turns and other obstacles all while utilizing extreme acceleration, braking and drifting is pretty much the definition of fun. For that reason, Block chose the Ford Fiesta as the car that will be purpose-built for his highly anticipated Gymkhana THREE.

“The great thing about Gymkhana for me is that it is amazingly fun to do,” said Block. “It’s taking some of the best parts of rally racing and removing a bit of the stress that is involved with competing, allowing me to just go out and play in an amazing car. I can’t wait to start filming in the Gymkhana THREE 2011 Ford Fiesta. I just did one day of testing in the U.K. with it and it is extremely fun to drive. It has amazing power and control.

“The whole Gymkhana thing started quite simply. I was looking for a way to get more seat time that involved rally-type driving, and a series for actual Gymkhana racing sprung up in California,” said Block. “I built the first car to compete in it, but unfortunately the series folded after only one event. I then had a purpose-built car with nowhere to run it, so I rented El Toro airfield to go have a little fun with my new toy and ended up making a video from the day of practice. Next thing we knew, it exploded on the Internet.”

Within minutes of announcing his decision in January to join Ford Motor Company and run a global rally program, Block’s Facebook page was inundated with inquiries about what this meant for Gymkhana. Today, those same fans get their first look at the car Block will utilize in the video.

“We are so excited to have Ken Block on our team engaging new audiences for Fiesta,” said Sam De La Garza, Fiesta brand manager. “In the first month alone, Ken’s Fiesta videos on YouTube generated more than 1 million views delivering the excitement of the Fiesta brand across the Internet. In just his second race in the Fiesta, Ken and the Monster World Rally Team captured the 100 Acre Wood Rally, showing that this is the beginning of a successful partnership.”

The Gymkhana THREE Fiesta is emblazoned with similar livery to Block’s Monster World Rally Team Rally America Fiesta and his Focus RS WRC; however, the “drip pattern” livery is larger and more pronounced than the rally car’s design.

The carbon fiber hydraulic e-brake handle has been changed to a custom-made metal piece, with Ken’s Huck Gee skull logo and No. 43 engraved into it. While Block’s trademark “43” is on the car, it is not in the standard door location, but displayed in the side rear windows.

Built by Olsbergs Motorsport Evolution (MSE), the 2,425-pound Gymkhana THREE Fiesta sports a purpose-built Olsbergs engine capable of up to 850 brake horsepower, but is restricted to 650 horsepower in order to give Block the torque band he needs to control the car. Equipped with an Olsbergs MSE Maktrak (magnesium) six-speed paddle-shift sequential transmission, it is capable of 660 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm and needs a mere two seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.

The car’s body has been altered with an aggressive new front bumper design inspired by road racing cars. It has a carbon splitter, which improves aerodynamics, unlike the rally car’s bumper, which is built for gravel stage durability. The fender flares are also much wider and more squared off for an aggressive look.

“Aside from gobs of usable power, the real trick in setting up the Gymkhana Ford Fiesta was building a car for tarmac that handles as if it’s on gravel,” said Block. “While most tarmac race cars are designed to grip, we need a car that will still react quickly, but handle loose, while still providing complete control; this is a very delicate balance.”

The Gymkhana THREE Fiesta started as a production 2011 Fiesta before going through a conversion by Olsbergs MSE, the same group that runs Block’s Rally America program and that won gold at the X Games 15 Rally Competition in a Fiesta last August. The production Fiesta is an excellent platform for the Gymkhana car. The nimble ride and the ultra-high-strength boron steel body are ideal for the demands of the Gymkhana course. A testament to the Fiesta platform is that Fiesta has been designated as Ford’s worldwide rally car in both WRC and Rally America starting in 2011.

Going on sale in summer 2010, the all-new, fun-to-drive Ford Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, with sharp reflexes and a global track record that will redefine U.S. small car customers’ expectations. The Fiesta is a car that doesn’t compromise – offering drivers the kind of technology, fun-to-drive performance, fuel economy and craftsmanship that other cars, both large and small, can’t match. With 15 class-exclusive technologies and features and projected best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, Fiesta brings fuel economy and convenience together.

Details of the location and stunts of Gymkhana THREE remain a closely guarded secret. The multi-day shoot and the tentative release of the Gymkhana THREE video is slated for this summer.

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