We not big on the Fiesta Movement, but Pikes Peak is another story. This summer, the Olsberg Motor Sport Evolution team from Sweden will campaign two Ford Fiestas in the annual "Race to the Clouds." The two Fiestas will be driven by Andreas Eriksson and rally legend Marcus Gronholm.
Although based on the road-going Fiesta, the cars will run in the Unlimited class which allows extensive modifications. Both will use all-wheel drive and have engines capable of producing more than 800 horsepower. The suspension setups were designed with help from Ohlins and Ford of Europe's Team RS engineers who are responsible for Ford's WRC cars.
"We are excited to be bringing the car to Pike's Peak and to be able to see what it can do in such a unique competition," said Eriksson. "It's a legendary event, and we've already been there to take a look at the challenge we will face. I'm convinced we'll be a top contender to break the 10-minute mark and give the Fiesta a proper racing debut in the U.S."
subytrojan says:
12:01 PM, 05/27/09
Sweet!!!
rick8365 says:
02:01 PM, 05/27/09
Dang.... you beat me to it Subie!! Sweet is the word - for the car and the event!
DCuerpoJr says:
03:58 PM, 05/27/09
Hmm...I wonder which one will be more popular when they debut. The new Ford Focus or the Ford Fiesta?
Either way, I'd like to test drive one as a replacement to my daily commuter.
k55 says:
07:38 AM, 05/28/09
Hello Ford,
I am waiting on the Fiesta Zetec S 3 door hatch 1.6 DOHC w/ 5 or 6spd manual.I hope you have the forethought to bring these as well as the sedan and 5 door hatch. I am seriously considering one if offered in time. I would like to consider an American company in my purchase plans. I would also suggest you move forward on the time frame for intro. I have read the euro articles and it seems the press can find no wrong. The only "wrong" I see is waiting for Mid 2010. You will be encouraging quite a bit of competition who are also in the wings waiting for US intro (Mk VI VW Golf , VW Polo, Honda CRZ, Suzuki Swift, Kia Forte sedan and coupe, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Spark, Toyota IQ..........)Quite a group and many will be vying for the same sub Focus market.I have known about the Ford products that you hesitate to offer in the USA (new Focus,Fiesta, Ka, Kuga, Mondeo, etc). I realize there are cost factors for some (Mondeo) but if you think there is not a market and good potential ROI for these products you may be misreading the US market. You are not including sizeable segments of the US population who have never bought into the need for V8's, V6's ,SUV's ,trucks, 7 passenger seating, 4wd, 5000 lb curb weights, etc. This is what pushed me towards foreign manufacturers as Ford seemed to have abandoned the prior Fiesta,Festiva, Capri and now ,even the Focus market in the USA. IE:You have had the next generation Focus in Europe for over 1yr. Yet we still get the old version. We notice and we read.