Despite its lengthy connection with global rallying, Ford doesn’t possess a multitude of World Rally Championship titles in its trophy cabinet. In the year 1998, the automaker aimed to alter its fate with the introduction of the new Focus, deviating from the Escort that had long been synonymous with Ford’s rallying endeavors. This era marked a significant shift for the sport as Group A regulations were gradually phased out in favor of the fresh World Rally Car formula. Notably, some teams, including Mitsubishi, faced challenges transitioning through this period. A historical news segment created by Ford prior to the Focus’s competitive debut at the 1999 Monte Carlo Rally perfectly captures this unique era, and you can view it right here.
Credit for this video goes to the YouTube channel VHS Rallies, which shared the footage on the platform last week. Personally, I appreciate glimpses behind the scenes like this, even if they predominantly serve as promotional material. There’s a certain allure to this ’90s content that resonates uniquely. The video offers a peek into the workings of the Ford World Rally Team, under the leadership of Malcolm Wilson (who presently oversees Ford’s WRC involvement via M-Sport), as they prepare the automaker’s next-gen global compact car for the demanding race tracks around the world.
The video also features appearances by Colin McRae, who transitioned from Subaru to Ford during this period, and surprisingly, Guenther Steiner. Yes, the principal of the Haas F1 team and standout of Drive to Survive was merely 33 years old when he assumed the role of project manager for the Focus’s WRC campaign, before venturing into grand prix racing via Jaguar in 2001.
The Focus, boasting a forward-thinking design under the “New Edge” concept, underwent several modifications beneath the hood compared to its predecessor, the Escort, aiming to address its history of mediocre performance. The new hatchback’s four-cylinder engine was not only smaller and lighter than its predecessor but also situated transversely instead of longitudinally, allowing engineers to position it closer to the car’s center for better weight distribution. Unlike the Escort Cosworth’s engine tailored for WRC racing, the Focus’s engine was adapted from the road-going model.
Ford co-driver Nicky Grist and driver Colin McRae celebrate their victory at the 1999 Safari Rally, the inaugural win for the Focus WRC. Although fast, the car faced reliability issues in its debut season. Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images
The runtime of the video is around 20 minutes, featuring exhilarating footage of the Focus WRC show car zipping through countryside roads in conjunction with its regular sibling. Even after a quarter of a century, the captivating elegance of the Focus’s design, with its notable large five-spoke wheels extending to the edges and the sleek, wedge-shaped aesthetics, continues to impress. They just don’t craft them like that anymore. I mean, have you checked out Ford’s current WRC entries?
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