South African rally fans need no introduction to this rising rally star. With his schooling finished, with him passing his Matric examinations with flying colours in December and wrapping up the Class A5 National title in 2010, he is moving up a step to continue his rally education. Hello, Ashley Haigh-Smith!
In my humble opinion, this driver is going about mounting a rally career in the proper way: his CV already lists a number of podium finishes in the hotly contested Western Cape Regional Rally Championhip and of course his successes at national level too.
The Capetonian driver started off in the lowest Class, learnt the basics of rallying, the complexities of strategies and gained experience under stressful battles for position. These have paid off: he won his first event outright last year, the youngest in South African rallying history.
Now for 2011, Ashley Haigh-Smith and co-driver Hilton Auffray will contest Class A6 in the impressive Ford Fiesta R2. This, the first right-hand drive model to be built by M-Sport in Cumbria, UK, has already taken to a regional rally in the Western Cape with Haigh-Smith and Auffray showcasing this car’s pace and agility through the twisties.
The aims of this driver? To win, and to win in a straight-out battle; to work for each victory and point; and, to gain as much confidence in his machine beneath him and grow as a rally driver. Why? To be crowned South African Rally Champion in the future. And this, I am positive about, is most attainable by this dedicated and determined driver.
New to South African rally fans is the Ford Fiesta R2. Here follows a brief technical specification of this rally car:
Donor vehicle:
Ford Fiesta 1.6 Sport/Zetec S. Model dated from September 2008 for purchase from any source.
Engine:
1.6 Zetec 16V – 1598cc – Ti-VCT; 4 cylinders in line; DOHC; 16 valves; alloy cylinder head and block; variable cam timing.
Power:
170 PS @ 7,500 rpm from 97 octane fuel
Torque:
182 Nm @ 5,700 rpm
Transmission: Five speed sequential gearbox developed by Sadev with plated limited slip differential and uprated driveshafts. ECU developed by Pi with flat shift feature with full throttle closed loop control shift.
Suspension:
Reiger adjustable dampers with Eibach springs, spherical jointed top mounts front and rear. Front dampers adjustable for bump and rebound. Standard rear beam with uprated mounts. 2-bolt clamped front upright. Adaptor pin mounted in uprights with spherical bearing connecting the lower arm. Five stud hub.
Brakes:
Gravel (front): 285 mm AP ventilated discs with four piston competition calipers.
Asphalt (front): 310 mm AP ventilated discs with four piston competition calipers.
Rear: 280 mm AP ventilated discs with single piston calipers.
Hydraulic handbrake.
Steering:
Electric power-assisted steering.
Wheels:
Gravel: OZ 6”x15” Gravel
Asphalt: OZ 6.5”x16” Asphalt
Bodyshell:
Welded T45 steel multipoint rollcage. Optimised seat position and integrated dash bar. Jacking points optional and seam welding is permitted.
Electronics:
Bespoke instrument cluster by Visteon in the same style as the standard series cluster.
Dimensions:
Length: 3953mm. Width: 1722mm. Height: 1481mm. Wheelbase: 2490mm. Weight: 1030kg.
This season HANDBRAKES & HAIRPINS will bring reports and news to you, dear readers, of this young driver and co-driver as they tackle the most demanding stages South Africa has to offer.