Ford are aiming to have the car ready to compete in time for the 2011 WRC season. The Fiesta will be eligible to enter national rally championships, as well as the S2000 World Cup and the IRC. The 2.0-litre S2000 will debut at the final round of this year’s IRC at the Rally of Scotland next week.
Under the bonnet a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is being housed. It will produce 280bhp while at the tops of its lungs at 8000rpm, along with 192lb ft at 6500rpm. It has also been fitted with a six-speed sequential gearbox and AP clutch to all four wheels, which will control the power sent from the engine.
As rally drivers are addicted to using the handbrake on tight hairpins to show off, the S2000 has a hydraulic handbrake to help in those hard hairpins. The car has multiple set-ups depending on the terrain; for example, on the rough gravel it will be fitted with Brembo 300m discs and four-piston monobloc callipers on all wheels, plus 15-inch aluminium alloys. But when on tarmac, the front brakes are upped to 355m and the wheels are raised to 18-inch magnesium.
To keep the Fiesta in touch with Earth, it has been fitted with adjustable dampers to keep them intact. All these gadgets and adjustments have tipped the car at the mandated 1200kg.
The WRC will be closing the doors on the big, chunky rally cars spelling the end of the Ford Focus and Citroen C2, but opening the door to small and simple cars in a bid to cut costs. Citroen are planning to build a rally version of their DS3 city car, but who else would you like to see revising their cars for the WRC? Renault Sport Clio? Honda Jazz? Fiat Abrath
Prices are yet to be announced, but plans from M-Sport state they are aiming to build 50 cars over the coming 12 months.
For a video of the S2000 in action, click on the link below:
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