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RALLY: Opportunity knocks for young Rally hopefuls

12 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

BIRMINGHAM, England - Ford's long heritage of providing the cars that help to make world rally champions continues with its rallying 'Ladder of Opportunity', announced today (Thursday) at the Autosport International Show.

"From the novice to the aspiring world champion, Ford Racing now has the rally car to suit", explained Ford Racing Engineering Manager, Philip Dunabin. "When the Ford Escort was the rally car to beat, many drivers went on to greater things by progressing from their rally-prepared Escort Mexicos to more powerful RS1600s. Back then, rally preparation was less complicated than today and many private drivers' rally cars were built in much the same way as the official 'works' machines.

"Today, technology has developed significantly and WRC-level rally cars are now highly sophisticated and complex machines. The difference between these and national-level rally cars is much greater, making progress through the ranks as a driver more difficult. That is why Ford has introduced its 'Ladder of Opportunity', to give a more structured route to the top of rallying and to provide a car for each step of the way," concluded Dunabin.

Key to the structure is the introduction of 'Super 1600', a new FIA World Rally Championship category for 2001. 'Super 1600' cars will also compete in various national rally championships, but the category is designed primarily to provide private rally drivers with an opportunity to display their talents to a wider audience by also competing at up to six rounds of the World Championship.

"Super 1600 will allow potential world rally drivers to learn world rally events so they arrive in the championship with key experience and it will also provide a platform for real new talent to shine," added Martin Whitaker, European Director of Ford Racing.

Ford is providing drivers in this new category with the option of the specially developed Ford Puma Super 1600, a mildly detuned version of the existing Ford Puma Kit Car. The Puma Super 1600 will be approved for motorsport on March 1, 2001. It completes Ford Racing's structured range of rally cars, which also includes the uprated 2001 Ford Ka Rally and the class-leading Ford Puma 1400 Kit Car, to provide potential World Rally drivers with the best possible route to the top.

Text Provided By Mark Wilford

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