.. to launch within the UK
M-Sport, the team behind Ford’s FIA World Rally Championship programme is to launch a Ford Fiesta ST Gp.N one-make championship for the UK in 2006.
The Ford Fiesta ST Gp.N first appeared at Rally Finland in the hands of former F1 driver Mika Salo and went on to win the N3 class at its competitive debut on Wales Rally GB earlier this month.
The series for the 2000cc Group N3 cars will be administered by M-Sport, which will provide technical, commercial and coordination support as well as a comprehensive parts supply service on all championship events. Mike Harris, former FIA technical delegate, is joining the organisation team to oversee technical scrutineering.
The series will start in March with the Malcolm Wilson Rally, based at the team's Dovenby Hall HQ in Cockermouth. Competitors will then face five more gravel rallies and two asphalt rallies on the UK mainland, finishing with the Bulldog Clubman Rally in October. All the events will be National B format to allow competitors to join the series at any point.
M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson said: “We are delighted to announce plans for the Fiesta SportingTrophy in the UK. There has been a phenomenal amount of interest in the ST Gp.N since it was launched in Finland and we are confident that the package we have will be able to provide drivers with an economical, reliable and competitive vehicle that above all is really fun to drive. We have done about 3000 kms of testing with this car and it has hit the mark in all areas. We have used our WRC engineering resources to provide a solid base car that will be competitive all over the world. ”
Prospective competitors will be able to buy a ‘kit’ of parts from M-Sport at a fixed price of £9,100 GBP + VAT and build their own car or buy a complete car from M-Sport, subject to availability.
The championship will be aimed at all competitors, young and old, experienced and amateur all with the aim of enjoying close competition allied to professional support.
M-Sport is offering a prize fund that will provide financial support for competitors down to eighth on each round, with the winner on each round taking a minimum of £750 plus additional product. At the end of the season, the winner will receive a new Ford Fiesta ST road car to drive away while the top two finishers in the championship and one ‘wildcard’ selected by the championship co-ordinator will win the opportunity to go forward to an ‘International Shoot-Out’, to win an opportunity that money cannot buy.
On Monday 10 October an event will be held at a location close to M-Sport’s Cumbrian base where prospective competitors will be able to have a passenger ride in the ST Gp.N, speak to people involved in the championship and see for themselves the package prior to the release of the first kits on 1 November 2005. Interested parties should register their details by e-mailing to fst@m-sport.co.uk to be added to the mailing list.
Information will soon be available on an exciting new pan-European championship also involving the Ford Fiesta ST Gp N.
UK Championship Events 2006 - Subject to Date Confirmation.
Date - Name - Surface
11th March Malcolm Wilson Rally Gravel 21st May Pirelli National Rally Gravel 3rd June Mutiny Rally Gravel 1st July Jim Clark Rally Tarmac 22nd July Swansea Bay Rally Gravel 27th August Mewla Rally Tarmac 9th September Park Systems Gravel 21st October Bulldog Rally Gravel
