The 2011 Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car made its debut at the Paris Motor Show last week. Developed by Ford of Europe and M-Sport, the Fiesta will replace the Focus RS WRC.
The Fiesta WRC is based on the Fiesta S2000 rally car, with an engine related to Ford's production 1.6-litre, EcoBoost motor. This uses direct fuel injection and turbocharging while the car features four-wheel drive.
The next stage in the rally car's development is a test with the 2011-specification engine on gravel roads in Spain. This will be the first opportunity for the race drivers to try out the new Fiesta.
Next year's Rally Sweden, the opening event of the FIA World Rally Championship on 10-13 February, will mark the Fiesta RS WRC's competition debut. It will be competing with the new Citroen DS3 WRC and the MINI Countryman WRC, both of which also made their debuts in Paris.