This is Ford’s all-new Fiesta R2 rally car powered by the 1,000cc EcoBoost engine, the first 3-cylinder car homologated by FIA to this category.
Developed by M-Sport with support from Ford, the Fiesta R2 is based on the standard Fiesta but adds rally-bred transmission, brakes and suspension.
Debuting in May at Rally de Portugal, the Ford Fiesta R2 will be the first car homologated by the FIA under new regulations that allow 1.0-liter turbocharged cars to compete in the R2 rally class. The engine is a modified version that produces 170PS (168hp).
“The combination of this remarkable 1.0-liter engine and chassis dynamics will continue to give the Fiesta R2 a winning edge in the FIA R2 rally category. The car sounds amazing, recalling powerful cars from the golden years of Group B rallying,” said the overly enthusiastic Gerard Quinn, head of racing for Ford Performance in Europe.
The second-generation Ford Fiesta R2 follows in the footsteps of the 2010 car, which was the first ever global rally car. The Fiesta R2 is the first step on the Blue Oval’s Ladder of Opportunity, created for young drivers who want to launch their rallying careers on the global stage. Upon mastering the R2 category, a driver can move on to the Fiesta R5 and ultimately the Fiesta RS WRC.
The all-new Fiesta R2 will be used in the single-make Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy series, first at the Rally de Portugal in May, and also in Finland, Germany, Poland and Spain. The overall winner of the series in 2015 will secure the opportunity to compete in seven WRC 2 rounds with a Drive DMACK funded Ford Fiesta R5 the following season.
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