Malcolm Wilson’s British company M-Sport, which runs Ford’s World Rally Championship, sells an R2 conversion kit to turn a run-of-the-mill Ford Fiesta into a decent, 2WD rally car.
The kit includes components such as pistons, connecting rods and camshafts that boost the 1.6-litre engine’s power by 40%, bringing it up to 168 hp. It also comes with a Sadev sequential shift transmission, Reiger shocks and Eibach springs, vented brake discs, a safety cage and racing seats.
We also got the chance to drive the course in the Fiesta R2 belonging to Chris Duplessis, an instructor at Team O’Neal. The little rocket is incredibly efficient. It literally flies from one corner to the next. The suspension does a great job in taking hits and absorbing landings, the car is easy to manoeuvre, the brakes are astoundingly powerful and the gearbox is quick. In fact, several European countries organize rally championships exclusively for these Fiesta R2s.
So if you think your Fiesta is only able to quietly drive you to work, know that it can also be a blast to drive and even win a rally or two, be it on asphalt, snow or gravel.
Anyone with a driver’s licence can sign up for Tim O’Neal’s Ford Fiesta Rally Experience in New Hampshire. To find out more, check out www.teamoneil.com.
The kit includes components such as pistons, connecting rods and camshafts that boost the 1.6-litre engine’s power by 40%, bringing it up to 168 hp. It also comes with a Sadev sequential shift transmission, Reiger shocks and Eibach springs, vented brake discs, a safety cage and racing seats.
We also got the chance to drive the course in the Fiesta R2 belonging to Chris Duplessis, an instructor at Team O’Neal. The little rocket is incredibly efficient. It literally flies from one corner to the next. The suspension does a great job in taking hits and absorbing landings, the car is easy to manoeuvre, the brakes are astoundingly powerful and the gearbox is quick. In fact, several European countries organize rally championships exclusively for these Fiesta R2s.
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| Photo: Rene Fagnan/Auto123.com |
So if you think your Fiesta is only able to quietly drive you to work, know that it can also be a blast to drive and even win a rally or two, be it on asphalt, snow or gravel.
Anyone with a driver’s licence can sign up for Tim O’Neal’s Ford Fiesta Rally Experience in New Hampshire. To find out more, check out www.teamoneil.com.
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