A new Fiesta R2 powered by Ford’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will make its competitive debut at Rally de Portugal later this week.
Homologated on May 1, the car will star in his year’s Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy (DDFT) - a one-make driver development programme that runs in conjunction with M-Sport and DMACK Tyres on six points-scoring rounds of five FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) events.
This new Fiesta R2, developed by M-Sport in conjunction with Ford, is the first of its kind to be homologated under new regulations that allow 1.0-liter cars to compete in the R2 class.
Producing 180 hp of power along with 250 Nm of torque, the new Fiesta R2 also features an enhanced gearbox, rally-spec suspension, a built-in rollcage, and competition brakes.
M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said: "We’ve always been at the forefront when it comes to introducing new concepts and new technologies and our close relationship with Ford has allowed us to do the same with the new Fiesta R2. We were the first to launch an R5 car and now we’re the first to launch a new 1.0-liter car in accordance with new regulations that allow such vehicles to compete in the R2 class. Engineering at M-Sport is going from strength to strength, and this is something that we are all immensely proud of."
Head of Racing, Ford Performance Europe, Gerard Quinn, said: "I am delighted to have been involved in this project since its inception. Bringing together the respective development teams at Ford and M-Sport has resulted in another successful product collaboration. The Fiesta has a proven rally pedigree in several categories and won eight national rally championships in 2014 as well as the WRC2 title. Like the team involved in the development of the car, I am really proud of what we have achieved. The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine is a truly remarkable engine and I cannot wait to see it competing on rally stages around the world."
