View source for Ford Focus RS WRC

{{Short description|Series of rally cars by Ford}}
{{Infobox racing car
| Car_name = Ford Focus RS WRC
| Image = Neste Oil Rally 2010 - Jari-Matti Latvala in shakedown.jpg
| Caption = [[Jari-Matti Latvala]], winner of the [[2010 Rally Finland]], driving a Ford Focus RS WRC 09 in [[Muurame, Finland]].
| Category = [[World Rally Car]]
| Constructor = [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| Designer =
| Predecessor = [[Ford Escort WRC]]
| Successor = [[Ford Fiesta RS WRC]]
| WRC=yes
| Team = {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Ford World Rally Team|Ford]]
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| Lubricants = [[Castrol]]
| Tyres = [[Pirelli]]
| Debut = {{Nowrap|{{flagicon|MON}} [[1999 Monte Carlo Rally]]}}
| First_win = {{flagicon|KEN}} [[1999 Safari Rally]]
| Last_win = {{flagicon|FIN}} [[2010 Rally Finland]]
| Last_event = {{flagicon|GBR}} [[2010 Wales Rally GB]]
| Races = 173
| Podiums = 142
| Wins = [[#WRC victories|44]]
| Titles = 2
| Cons_champ = 2 ({{WRC|2006}}, {{WRC|2007}})
| Drivers_champ = 0
}}
The '''Ford Focus RS WRC''' is a car built for the [[Ford World Rally Team]] by [[Ford of Europe|Ford Europe]] and [[M-Sport]] and based on the [[Ford Focus]] Climate 2-litre production [[hatchback]], developed to compete in the [[World Rally Championship]]. The [[Ford Team RS|RS]] stands for ''Rallye Sport'' and the WRC for ''[[World Rally Car]]'', the car's FIA specification. The Focus RS WRC was in competition from 1999 to 2010, winning 44 world rallies and two manufacturers' world titles ([[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]] and [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]). It was replaced by the [[Ford Fiesta RS WRC]].

Like all contemporary World Rally Cars, the car is heavily modified from the production version, with which it shares only the basic shape and some parts of the bodyshell. The car features [[four-wheel drive]], rather than the [[front-wheel drive]] of the road car. The engine used in the 2007 Focus WRC is based on Ford's 2.0 Litre [[Ford Duratec engine|Duratec]] from other models in the Focus range as rallying rules do not permit the standard 2.5-litre engine of the Focus ST or road going RS. As with most rally cars, the 2.0-litre engine is heavily modified and performance was increased using a [[turbocharger]]. The 2009 Ford Focus RS WRC uses a Ford 1998cc Pipo built [[Straight-four engine|I4]] Duratec WRC engine (four cylinders, 16 valves, bore 85&nbsp;mm and stroke 88&nbsp;mm), Pi electronic engine management system, [[Garrett Motion|Garrett]] turbocharger (with required 34&nbsp;mm inlet restrictor), air intercooler, and a catalytic converter.

The car's transmission is a permanent four-wheel drive with an [[M-Sport]] designed active centre differential, Pi electronic differential control units, M-Sport/Ricardo five-speed sequential gearbox with electro-hydraulically controlled shift and an M-Sport/Sachs multi-disc carbon clutch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ford Focus RS WRC 07 technical specification |url=https://au.motorsport.com/wrc/news/ford-focus-rs-wrc-07-technical-specification/2206268/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=au.motorsport.com |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
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[[Image:Cs2 ford.jpg|thumb|left|[[Carlos Sainz Sr.|Carlos Sainz]] driving an RS WRC 01 at the 2001 [[Rally Finland]].]]
The first version of the car was built in 1999 to replace the [[Ford Escort WRC]]. It debuted in the [[Monte Carlo Rally]] with [[Colin McRae]] and [[Simon Jean-Joseph]] behind the wheels of the two cars. It was immediately on the pace, setting many fastest stage times, but the use of an illegal water pump meant that the two cars were excluded from the event. McRae gave the Focus its first win two events later on the [[Safari Rally|Safari Rally Kenya]] finishing over 15 minutes ahead of the second placed [[Toyota Corolla WRC|Toyota]] of [[Didier Auriol]]. Despite coming close on several occasions, the car never won either the drivers or manufacturers title. This included McRae losing the [[2001 World Rally Championship|2001]] title by 2 points after crashing out of the final round.

In [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]], Ford released a newly designed Focus RS WRC, named Focus RS WRC 03, for competition during the second part of the season. The car, with most parts redesigned from the ground up, featured a lighter body shell and a new aerodynamically enhanced front bumper and wing. [[Markko Märtin]] drove the car to two world rally victories. The 2004 and 2005 Focus RS WRCs were evolutions based on the RS WRC 03. The Focus RS WRC 04 won three events with Märtin at the wheel. By 2005, the car was no longer very competitive and Ford had a winless season.

From the last rally of the [[2005 World Rally Championship season|2005 season]], Ford campaigned a brand new model, the Focus RS WRC 06, following the launch of the new road-going version of the car. The engine chosen for this Focus was a Duratec motor developed by the French engine specialist Pipo Moteur.<ref name=mcp>{{cite web
 |url         = http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=22884
 |title       = THE ALL-NEW FORD FOCUS RS WRC 06: TECHNOLOGY AND INTELLIGENT SOLUTIONS
 |access-date  = 2008-02-26
 |publisher   = media.ford.com
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525174218/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=22884
 |archive-date = 2011-05-25
}}</ref> In the hands of [[Marcus Grönholm]] and [[Mikko Hirvonen]], the car took eight world rally wins in the [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006 season]], winning the first manufacturers' championship for Ford since [[1979 World Rally Championship|1979]].

[[Image:Mikko Hirvonen - 2008 Rallye Deutschland 4.jpg|thumb|[[Mikko Hirvonen]] driving an RS WRC 08 in [[2008 Rallye Deutschland|Germany]].]]
The Focus RS WRC 07 is based on the 2006 model, and according to Ford's technical director Christian Loriaux "the changes on the new car are mainly to save weight and to improve efficiency, driveability and performance at the bottom end of the range."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.autoracingdaily.com/news/world-rally-championship/ford_focus_rs_wrc_07_bp_ford_world_rally_team_seeks_to_take_huge_steps_forw/ | title=Ford Focus RS WRC 07, BP-Ford World Rally Team seeks to take huge steps forward | access-date=23 November 2008 | work=Auto Racing Daily | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112223713/http://www.autoracingdaily.com/news/world-rally-championship/ford_focus_rs_wrc_07_bp_ford_world_rally_team_seeks_to_take_huge_steps_forw/ | archive-date=12 January 2009 }}</ref> The car debuted very successfully at the [[2007 Rally Finland]] as Ford's Finns Grönholm and [[Mikko Hirvonen]] finished in first and second. Ford successfully defended the manufacturers' championship in [[2007 World Rally Championship|2007]]. The car later made history at the [[2008 Swedish Rally]] when [[Jari-Matti Latvala]] used it to become the youngest-ever driver to win a world rally.

The Focus RS WRC 08 is based on the 2007 model. The Focus WRC 08 was in competition for the first time with its new front aero design at the [[2008 Rallye Deutschland]]. The 2008 version of the Focus RS WRC includes design style changes as well as engine improvements. Style changes to the grill area reflect the looks of the recently previewed [[Ford Focus (second generation, Europe)#Focus RS Mk 2|Focus RS Mk II]] road sport car. The 2008 RS WRC was driven to its only victory at the [[2008 Rally Japan]].

The 2009 version of the Focus RS WRC debuted at the [[2009 Rally d'Italia Sardegna]], leading Ford to a 1-2. It includes small design style changes. Style changes were made to the lights frame and rear bumper to bring the look closer to the Focus RS Mk II 2009 road sport car. The 2009 Focus RS WRC remained the last of Ford's WRC cars based on the Focus. It was replaced by the [[Ford Fiesta RS WRC]] after the [[2010 World Rally Championship season|2010 season]].

The Ford Focus RS WRC appeared in 173 World Rally Championship events, winning 44 and collecting 142 podium places.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrc.com/news/ford-bids-a-star-studded-farewell-to-its-focus-wrc/?fid=13902 | title=Ford bids a star-studded farewell to its Focus WRC | date=12 November 2010 | access-date=7 June 2011 | work=WRC.com | archive-date=1 December 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201213331/http://wrc.com/news/ford-bids-a-star-studded-farewell-to-its-focus-wrc/?fid=13902 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==WRC Victories==
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; "
! No.
! Event
! Season
! Driver
! Co-driver
|-
| 1
| {{Flagicon|KEN}} [[1999 Safari Rally]]
| [[1999 World Rally Championship season|1999]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]]
|-
| 2
| {{Flagicon|POR}} [[1999 Rally de Portugal]]
| [[1999 World Rally Championship season|1999]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]]
|-
| 3
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[2000 Rallye Catalunya]]
| [[2000 World Rally Championship season|2000]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]]
|-
| 4
| {{Flagicon|GRE}} [[2000 Acropolis Rally]]
| [[2000 World Rally Championship season|2000]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]]
|-
| 5
| {{Flagicon|CYP}} [[2000 Cyprus Rally]]
| [[2000 World Rally Championship season|2000]]
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Carlos Sainz Sr.|Carlos Sainz]]
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Luís Moya]]
|-
| 6
| {{Flagicon|ARG}} [[2001 Rally Argentina]]
| [[2001 World Rally Championship season|2001]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]]
|-
| 7
| {{Flagicon|CYP}} [[2001 Cyprus Rally]]
| [[2001 World Rally Championship season|2001]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]]
|-
| 8
| {{Flagicon|GRE}} [[2001 Acropolis Rally]]
| [[2001 World Rally Championship season|2001]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]]
|-
| 9
| {{Flagicon|ARG}} [[2002 Rally Argentina]]
| [[2002 World Rally Championship season|2002]]
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Carlos Sainz Sr.|Carlos Sainz]]
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Luís Moya]]
|-
| 10
| {{Flagicon|GRE}} [[2002 Acropolis Rally]]
| [[2002 World Rally Championship season|2002]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]]
|-
| 11
| {{Flagicon|KEN}} [[2002 Safari Rally]]
| [[2002 World Rally Championship season|2002]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]]
|-
| 12
| {{Flagicon|GRE}} [[2003 Acropolis Rally]]
| [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]]
| {{Flagicon|EST}} [[Markko Märtin]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Michael Park (co-driver)|Michael Park]]
|-
| 13
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[2003 Rally Finland]]
| [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]]
| {{Flagicon|EST}} [[Markko Märtin]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Michael Park (co-driver)|Michael Park]]
|-
| 14
| {{Flagicon|MEX}} [[2004 Rally México]]
| [[2004 World Rally Championship season|2004]]
| {{Flagicon|EST}} [[Markko Märtin]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Michael Park (co-driver)|Michael Park]]
|-
| 15
| {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[2004 Tour de Corse]]
| [[2004 World Rally Championship season|2004]]
| {{Flagicon|EST}} [[Markko Märtin]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Michael Park (co-driver)|Michael Park]]
|-
| 16
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[2004 Rally Catalunya]]
| [[2004 World Rally Championship season|2004]]
| {{Flagicon|EST}} [[Markko Märtin]]
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Michael Park (co-driver)|Michael Park]]
|-
| 17
| {{Flagicon|MCO}} [[2006 Monte Carlo Rally]]
| [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 18
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[2006 Swedish Rally]]
| [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 19
| {{Flagicon|GRE}} [[2006 Acropolis Rally]]
| [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 20
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[2006 Rally Finland]]
| [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 21
| {{Flagicon|TUR}} [[2006 Rally of Turkey]]
| [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 22
| {{Flagicon|AUS}} [[2006 Rally Australia]]
| [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 23
| {{Flagicon|NZL}} [[2006 Rally New Zealand]]
| [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 24
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[2006 Wales Rally GB]]
| [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 25
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[2007 Swedish Rally]]
| [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 26
| {{Flagicon|NOR}} [[2007 Rally Norway]]
| [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 27
| {{Flagicon|ITA}} [[2007 Rally d'Italia Sardegna]]
| [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 28
| {{Flagicon|GRE}} [[2007 Acropolis Rally]]
| [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 29
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[2007 Rally Finland]]
| [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 30
| {{Flagicon|NZL}} [[2007 Rally New Zealand]]
| [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Grönholm]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Rautiainen (co-driver)|Timo Rautiainen]]
|-
| 31
| {{Flagicon|JPN}} [[2007 Rally Japan]]
| [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 32
| {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[2007 Wales Rally GB]]
| [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 33
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[2008 Swedish Rally]]
| [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jari-Matti Latvala]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Miikka Anttila]]
|-
| 34
| {{Flagicon|JOR}} [[2008 Jordan Rally]]
| [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 35
| {{Flagicon|TUR}} [[2008 Rally of Turkey]]
| [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 36
| {{Flagicon|JPN}} [[2008 Rally Japan]]
| [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 37
| {{Flagicon|ITA}} [[2009 Rally d'Italia Sardegna]]
| [[2009 World Rally Championship season|2009]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jari-Matti Latvala]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Miikka Anttila]]
|-
| 38
| {{Flagicon|GRE}} [[2009 Acropolis Rally]]
| [[2009 World Rally Championship season|2009]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 39
| {{Flagicon|POL}} [[2009 Rally Poland]]
| [[2009 World Rally Championship season|2009]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 40
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[2009 Rally Finland]]
| [[2009 World Rally Championship season|2009]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 41
| {{Flagicon|AUS}} [[2009 Rally Australia]]
| [[2009 World Rally Championship season|2009]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 42
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[2010 Swedish Rally]]
| [[2010 World Rally Championship season|2010]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Mikko Hirvonen]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jarmo Lehtinen]]
|-
| 43
| {{Flagicon|NZL}} [[2010 Rally New Zealand]]
| [[2010 World Rally Championship season|2010]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jari-Matti Latvala]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Miikka Anttila]]
|-
| 44
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[2010 Rally Finland]]
| [[2010 World Rally Championship season|2010]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Jari-Matti Latvala]]
| {{Flagicon|FIN}} [[Miikka Anttila]]
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Ma3 ford.jpg|Focus WRC (1999) at the 2001 [[Rally Finland]].
Image:2000 WRC Acropolis Day3 Sainz.jpg|RS WRC 00 at the 2000 [[Acropolis Rally]].
Image:Cs ford.jpg|RS WRC 01 at the 2001 [[Rally Finland]].
Image:Janne Tuohino.jpg|RS WRC 02 at the 2004 [[Cyprus Rally]].
Image:2003 Acropolis Rally 22.jpg|RS WRC 03 at the 2003 [[Acropolis Rally]].
Image:François Duval - 2004 Rally Finland.jpg|RS WRC 04 at the 2004 [[Rally Finland]].
Image:Ss6 garde.jpg|RS WRC 04 at the 2005 [[Acropolis Rally]].
Image:Ford Foucus WRC05.JPG|RS WRC 06 at the 2006 [[Rally Japan]].
Image:Andy Priaulx - 2007 Race of Champions 2.jpg|RS WRC 07 at the [[2007 Race of Champions]].
Image:Khalid al-Qassimi - 2008 Rallye de France SS5.jpg|RS WRC 08 at the [[2008 Tour de Corse]]
File:Jari-Matti Latvala in Rally Bulgaria 2010.JPG|RS WRC 09 at the [[2010 Rally Bulgaria]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20220809064512/http://www.fordwrc.com/ Ford Focus World Rally Car] at Fordwrc.com (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060615002310/http://www.zone.ee/focushistory/ Ford Focus WRC history and WRC events entered] (archived)

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box | before = [[Toyota Corolla WRC]] | title = [[Autosport]]<br />Rally Car of the Year | after = [[Peugeot 206 WRC]] | years = 2000, 2001}}
{{succession box | before = [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] | title = [[Autosport]]<br />Rally Car of the Year | after = [[Citroën C4 WRC]] | years = 2006, 2007}}
{{s-end}}

{{Ford Focus}}
{{Ford RS series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Focus WRC}}
[[Category:Ford Rally Sport vehicles]]
[[Category:World Rally Cars]]
[[Category:Ford Focus]]
[[Category:All-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:World Rally championship–winning cars]]
[[Category:Ford racing cars|Focus RS WRC]]