Ford Focus RS WRC Rally Car 2008

[Gt1Street]

WORLD CHAMPION FORD REVEALS NEW LOOK FOR 2008 FOCUS RS WORLD RALLY CAR

BIRMINGHAM, 10 JANUARY 2008 – Ford of Europe today revealed the exciting new look for its 2008 FIA World Rally Championship campaign as the team was unveiled at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham.

The Focus RS World Rally Car, which powered Ford to the manufacturers' world title in both 2006 and 2007, sports a striking modern livery that took centre stage today at Europe's largest annual motorsport exhibition. It was also announced that the squad will be named the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team for 2008.

The team's new driver line-up of Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala were joined by Ford of Europe's new motorsport director, Mark Deans, and team director Malcolm Wilson as they revealed the Focus RS WRC's colour scheme for the first time.

"The Focus RS WRC has a new, contemporary livery which blends perfectly with the outlook of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team," explained Deans. "This is our first full season in partnership with BP and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and their importance to our WRC programme is reflected in the team's new name and their prominence on the car.

"Of course, there is far more to a successful WRC campaign than the colour of the car and the name of the team. But in the few weeks since I took up my new role as motorsport director I have seen enough to convince me that we are again capable of being fully competitive in 2008. We have a dynamic, young driver line-up supported by one of the most enthusiastic and hard-working teams in motorsport at M-Sport and I look forward to a year that I'm confident will be a successful one," he added.

Deans also sprung a surprise on Wilson, presenting him with a replica of the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship's manufacturers' trophy on behalf of Ford of Europe. "That was a fantastic gesture and one that I really appreciated," said Wilson. "It brought back the memories of what a remarkable year 2007 was for Ford in the WRC.

"But that is history and we're now fully focused on the 2008 season. In Mikko and Jari-Matti we have two young drivers who are hungry for competition but also have experience that belies their years and I'm looking forward to watching them develop further during the season. Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qassimi has a comprehensive programme of 10 events in a third Focus RS WRC and I hope to see him gain further in both experience and confidence during the year," added Wilson.

[jorismo]

In my opinion the hottest car in the field. And I think that the 2008 will be close. I don't expect a real Citroën dominance, but lots of people with a close amount of points.

[Ferrer]

Interesting that the 2008 car carried the old nose.

On a side note, fart cans are small next to the exhaust in this...

[Cotterik]

yeah, why is the 2008 car not using the 2008 model? surely that goes against the whole purpose of participating - to promote the car itself?

[NSXType-R]

Interesting that the 2008 car carried the old nose.

On a side note, fart cans are small next to the exhaust in this...

At least it's not all noise and no go.

[adamfraser]

The red is horrid in my view, the Chrome on last years cars looked 100 times better.

[Birdman]

The red is horrid in my view, the Chrome on last years cars looked 100 times better.

I agree. It made the car look a lot better. The red interupts the colour scheme.

[LeonOfTheDead]

In my opinion the hottest car in the field. And I think that the 2008 will be close. I don't expect a real Citroën dominance, but lots of people with a close amount of points.

i guess you never know of Sebastien-Kill'em All-Loeb...

btw, i don't like Citroen's cars, but the C4 at least isn't as conventional as the Focus. its style, which is nearly ugly, is better looking whit all those wings and fenders and air intakes, while i would take the focus in the road going version...but i still prefer the old focus. it had a very original style, but it was way more easy on the eyes...

[adamfraser]

i guess you never know of Sebastien-Kill'em All-Loeb...

And i guess you never knew he's not top of the tables at the moment?

[Wouter Melissen]

And i guess you never knew he's not top of the tables at the moment?

Because he retired one rally. He won the other two.

[JRodrigues]

Worst car livery ever.

[adamfraser]

Because he retired one rally. He won the other two.

I Agree. But competition from J-M Latvala, and an impressive performance form Atkinson at Mexico may hinder Loeb this year in my view.

[LeonOfTheDead]

I Agree. But competition from J-M Latvala, and an impressive performance form Atkinson at Mexico may hinder Loeb this year in my view.

they are good drivers, for sure, but Loeb is way more constant, and probably the C4 is a better car. btw, two years ago he was driving a not official old car, he retired in the first rally, and still managed to win the championship.
WRC needs a good fight for the championship, let's see what will happen