Ford of Europe today officially unveiled the all-new Ford Focus RS World Rally Car 06 at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy. The car will be Ford's challenger in the FIA World Rally Championship from 2006 onwards and was unveiled in the eye-catching livery in which it will make its full competitive debut in January's Monte Carlo Rally.

It is based on the high-performance Ford Focus ST road car, which is being launched across Europe this autumn. The new Focus RS WRC 06 has been designed and built in less than 11 months by an experienced and innovative engineering team led by Christian Loriaux, technical director at British-based company M-Sport which operates the Blue Oval's WRC programme. His team has worked closely in the development with Ford TeamRS, Ford of Europe's performance road car and motorsport arm.

Four-year commitment

Just over 12 months ago in Brussels, Ford of Europe announced a four-year commitment to the World Rally Championship, confirming the sport as the company's primary motorsport activity. A key aspect of that agreement was the introduction of an all-new Focus RS WRC based on the new-generation road car. It continues a family tradition that has seen the model provide the backbone of Ford's motorsport activity since 1999.

The all-new rally car unveiled in Bologna this morning will be driven in the 2006 championship by double world champions Marcus Gr

Smart

Looks like they could be onto a winner

Anyone else noticed anything strange about this?

BF Goodrich tyres perhaps?

BF Goodrich tyres perhaps?

Is that strange? :confused:

Chris

BF Goodrich tyres perhaps?

Spot on - they were Michelin users.

I wonder if BF Goodrich are joining Michelin and Pirrelli in the WRC.

I'll have to do some digging.

Is that strange? :confused:

Chris

I just thought it odd as BFG not a tyre manufacturer you'd normally assocatiate with WRC....Pirelli/Michelin main suppliers IIRC.

Here is the line from someone who is very much in the know.

"BF Goodrich are owned by Michelin, but they normally have strict agreement over markets. We are sponsored by BF Goodrich at the present (have been for many years) and we have been asked many times to not promote the Michelin brand and BFG side by side, ironic I agree as we collect tyres from the same compound as the normal Michelin motorsport tyres in Stoke.

BFG is regarded by Michelin as their America arm (as Kleber their budget brand?), they have one of the largest motorsport portfolios I can think of, backing the SCORE (short course off-road),CORR (championship off-road),UROC (united off-road), Signal (track drifting) and NHRA, NDRA, USAR, Pro Comp championship sponsors!

I wonder if this could be the PR for a European push for the BFG brand?. "

Yeah I thought BFG were heavily involved in US racing series so didn't think anything of it!

Chris