November 3, 2010
(Ford Racing)
Ford has announced a new Fiesta R2 rally package that will be available for the first time in the U.S. Currently only available throughout Europe, Ford Racing Performance Group is bringing the competition-ready package here 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.”
(Ford Racing)
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 the 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.” "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.
(Ford Racing)
Developed by M-Sport, Ford’s WRC partner since 1997, the Fiesta R2 rally kit will convert a production five-door Fiesta (3-door Euro version shown above) to rally specification. Included in the package are pistons, con rods, camshafts, valve springs, injectors, airbox, air filter and a sump baffle kit that will boost the performance of the 1.6-liter Ti-VCT four-cylinder engine to deliver 168 horsepower and 134 lb.-ft. of torque, a 40 percent increase in horsepower over the production Fiesta. Other trick upgrades include a 5-speed Sadev sequential gearbox with flat shift gear cut, Reiger adjustable dampers with Eibach springs, Ventilated disc brakes with AP four-piston competition calipers and a 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.
(Ford Racing)
A 2011 Ford F-150 powered by a EcoBoost V6 engine will take on the demanding Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 long-distance desert endurance race this year, marking the engine's racing debut.
(Ford)
Ford also announced that it will race its newest offering - the Focus - in Touring Car categories around the world. Ford will coordinate with and provide technical support to private race teams to develop one common race car capable of adapting to the major touring car categories globally, with the potential to run in many national and regional championships. The global Focus race car will be powered by Ford's EcoBoost engine, which will go into production in the Focus ST, due here in this market in about a year. The first race appearance for the Focus is targeted for the 2011 British Touring Car Championship. Professional private race teams are partnering with Ford to develop common technical specifications for the race car, which will conform to FIA Super 2000 regulations with potential to adopt to other regulations.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Friend of AE (FOA) and photographer extraordinaire, John Thawley, made his now annual trek to the Budweiser Fall Classic Swamp Buggy races in Naples, Florida over the weekend and has put together a fine gallery of images here. - PMD.
Here's what John had to say about the experience:
You'd never know it from the weather, but a sure sign that it's fall in Southwest Florida is the annual October return of the World Famous Naples Swamp Buggy Races to Florida Sports Park in Naples.
The weekend kicked off the 2010/2011 three-race season with the Budweiser Fall Classic. If it's thrills and spills you're looking for, these guys pack more action into a two-lap run around the 'Mile-O-Mud' than you'll see in a full 24 Hours of Grand Am at Daytona.
Always in the running, the Budweiser Fall Classic was all about Dan Greenling and he made it look like a walk in the park. Posting the fastest laps all day, Greenling won the Pro Modified 2 Wheel division and even had enough left to shut down defending Series Champion, Eddie Chesser in the Big Feature. No easy feat given Chesser had the advantage over Geenlings 2-wheel drive Pro Mod, Roll-On, with his 4-wheel drive Pro Mod, The Rapture.
“It’s never easy to get up here on Sunday,” a jubilant Greenling said after overcoming a deficit to win the Big Feature over Chesser. “You always worry. There are just so many little things that can go wrong. Every time you’re able to win on Sunday, you appreciate it even more than the previous time. That’s how hard it is.”
The final was exactly what the crowd came to see. Though Chesser had the early lead, Geenling got by on the inside coming out of the wild and wooley right-hand sweeper at the far end of the track.
“It was a clean race,” noted Greenling. “Eddie gave me all I needed. I probably could have gone up on the bank a little more if I had needed to. Eddie could have moved over to block a little more if he had wanted to. But he didn’t do that.”
“I didn’t actually see him until we exited the turn,” said Chesser. “I knew he would be there sooner or later. He’s running fast. It was a good race. My buggy’s running faster than it ever has. I’m happy with it. I’m very happy with it.”
Greenling finished the Big Feature with a time of 53.09 seconds, compared to Chesser’s 58.68. Greenling set fast time for the weekend earlier in the day with a fast lap of 52.84 winning his class final over Tony Migliazzo’s Bada Bing.
If you're heading down south for the winter be sure and check out the Swamp Buggy races slated for January 29 & 30, 2011, March 5 & 6, 2011 & October 29 & 30, 2011.
Road America, IndyCar. Now that it's official that IndyCar will not be returning to the temporary City Centre Airport circuit in Edmonton, Alberta, in 2011, we think it's high time that IndyCar go back to Road America as a double-header with the ALMS next August.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: If you really must keep up on all of the latest F1 developments and the potential U.S. GP in Austin, Texas, go here. - PMD
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD
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