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Rally: New livery for Ford's Focus rally challenger

16 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Ford's new Focus World Rally Car will sport an exciting new livery for the 2000 FIA World Rally Championship which begins in Monte Carlo next week. The four-wheel drive Focus, which boasts a number of important technical revisions for the season, will display a revised version of the Ford Martini livery which made the car so distinctive during its debut year in 1999.

The Ford Martini team has been boosted by the arrival of Telefonica MoviStar as a major new commercial partner and the Focus' livery reflects the input of the Spanish mobile telephone company.

Twice a winner in 1999, the car has undergone several changes during the short close season. A re-profiled front bumper and new rear wing - no longer a separate aerofoil section but an extended lip on top of the tailgate - have been designed to improve the aerodynamic package and create a better balance for the car.

Underneath the bonnet there are also several changes to the Focus. The Cosworth Racing designed engine has both a new anti-lag system and turbocharger while engine cooling has been greatly improved thanks to a better airflow behind the revised front bumper.

In the transmission, Ford Martini engineers have raised the clutch by 150mm to eliminate vibration. That modification meant a complete change to the engine area. The intercooler is more central and the new turbocharger has been relocated to present a much neater looking engine bay.

Also new is one half of the driver combination. Double world champions Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya join 1999 drivers Colin McRae and Nicky Grist, also former world champions, to form potentially the strongest driver line-up of all manufacturers contesting the world championship and confirming Ford's commitment to success in the 2000 series.

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