In 2006, through the BP-Ford World Rally Team, Ford entered two Focus RS World Rally Cars for all 16 rounds of that year’s series, driven by double world champions Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen and fellow Finns Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen.
The programme was operated on Ford’s behalf by long-term partner M-Sport, the home of the Blue Oval’s international rally projects. The 2006 specification Focus RS WRC, based on the highly successful Focus ST road car, was developed to win rally stages.
Its first victory came at that season’s opening round, the Rallye Monte-Carlo, with Gronholm/Lehtinen fastest of all. The Finn also took victories at that year’s Rally Greece, Rally Finland, Rally Turkey, Rally New Zealand, and Rally GB, while Hirvonen won Rally Australia for the squad. That handed the BP-Ford World Rally Team the much-deserved Manufacturers’ Championship title.
For its extensive list of stage wins and rally victories, please see visit our friends at ewrc-results.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine:Ford 1998cc Pipo built I4 Duratec WRC engine. Four cylinders, 16 valves. Bore: 85mm. Stroke: 88mm. Pi electronic engine management system. Garrett turbocharger (with FIA required 34 mm inlet restrictor). Air intercooler. Catalytic converter.
Power:300 bhp at 6000 rpm
Torque:550 Nm at 4000 rpm
Transmission:Permanent four-wheel drive with M-Sport designed active centre differential. Pi electronic differential control units. M-Sport/Ricardo five speed sequential gearbox with electro-hydraulically controlled shift. M-Sport / Sachs multi disc carbon clutch.
Suspension:Front and rear: MacPherson struts (front) and Trailing-Arm (rear) with Reiger external reservoir dampers, adjustable in bump and rebound. Fully adjustable fabricated steel links. Front and rear anti-roll bars. Cast steel uprights. Ceramic wheel bearings.
Brakes:Gravel (front and rear): 300mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo four piston monoblock calipers.
Asphalt (front and rear): 370mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo eight-piston monoblock calipers. Hydraulic handbrake; Adjustable front / rear bias.
Steering:Power-assisted high-ratio (12:1) rack and pinion. One and a halfturns lock to lock.
Wheels:Gravel: 7in x 15in (magnesium) wheels with BF Goodrich 650mm tyres. Asphalt: 8in x 18in (magnesium) wheels with BF Goodrich 650mm tyres.
Bodyshell:Unitary construction. Unique composite side panels. Welded T45 steel safety roll cage. Aerodynamic rear wing. Unique front ‘bumper’ treatment.
Electronics:Full Pi chassis and engine data acquisition for on-event diagnostics and performance development.
Fuel Tank:FIA FT3 tank, 94 litre capacity, located centrally.
Dimensions:Length: 4362mm; Width: 1800mm; Wheelbase: 2640mm; Weight: 1230kg minimum.