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The Ford Focus RS WRC 06 is based on the Focus ST road car which was somewhat larger exterior dimensions than its predecessor. Luckily for the team, the new car was exactly 1800mm wide, the maximum width allowed by the rules. Larger size means bigger mass and bigger cross-section, so team faced a challenge to achieve the minimum weight and ideal aerodynamic performance.
Team chose two liter Duratec engine as a base for the competition engine and contracted French engine specialist Pipo Moteur to assist with engine development. By the way, Pipo Moteur was the specialist Peugeot team had successfully used during their stay in WRC. Duratec engine has an all-alloy block which helped with weight distribution.
In suspension, regulations had been tightened in respect of use of titanium and Ford had to find alternative material. The new material was not disclosed but team continued to use Reiger dampers with the new suspension. One of the biggest technical changes for 2006 season was ban on active front and rear differentials which forced the team to design mechanical units to use as replacement.
Gearbox changed from longitudinal to transverse and from six speeds to five speed unit. It is better in terms of packaging but it was also felt that less power would be lost through friction as transverse-engine-transverse-gearbox configuration needed less gears between them. Peugeot was the first to return to first to five speed and later even to four speed gearbox and now Ford followed the suit.
As in all Loriaux designed cars, weight distribution was again on top of the agenda. Some of the more radical solutions remained secret, but team assured that no element of the design had escaped intense scrutiny as far as weight distribution was concerned.
Ford debuted the all-new 2006 Focus in final rally of the 2005 season with a view of giving it taste of competition before launching into new season which saw them clinch Ford's second manufacturer's title and made 2006 Focus the Ford's most successful rally car so far.
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| Debut WRC event: | Australia 2005 |
| Best WRC result: | 1st by Marcus Gronholm in Monte Carlo 2006
1st by Marcus Gronholm in Sweden 2006
1st by Marcus Gronholm in Acropolis 2006
1st by Marcus Gronholm in Finland 2006
1st by Marcus Gronholm in Turkey 2006
1st by Mikko Hirvonen in Australia 2006
1st by Marcus Gronholm in New Zealand 2006
1st by Marcus Gronholm in Great Britain 2006
1st by Marcus Gronholm in Sweden 2007
1st by Mikko Hirvonen in Norway 2007
1st by Marcus Gronholm in Sardinia 2007
1st by Marcus Gronholm in Acropolis 2007 |
| Rallies contested: | 29 | (works entries) |
| WRC starts: | 54 | (works entries) |
| Outright wins: | 12 | (wins to rallies ratio 41.4%) |
| Podiums: | 35 | (podiums to starts ratio 64.8%) |
| DNF's: | 4 | (DNF's to starts ratio 7.4 %) |
| Points scored: | 421 | (manufacturer championship points) |
| Avg points per rally: | 14.5 | |
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| Group and class | World Rally Car |
| Engine |
| Location: | Front transverse |
| Turbo: | Yes |
| Cylinders: | 4 in line |
| Valves: | 16 |
| Bore x stroke: | 85.0 x 88.0 mm |
| Cubic capacity: | 1998 cc |
| Power: | 300 hp |
| Torque: | 550 Nm |
| Dimensions |
| Length: | 4362 mm |
| Width: | 1800 mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2640 mm |
| Weight: | 1230 kg |
| Transmission |
| Drive: | 4WD |
| Gearbox: | Transverse |
| Gears: | 5 |
| Sequential: | Yes |
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Ford Focus RS WRC 06
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Detail of unique spare tyre location of Focus WRC 06, both praised but also criticized.
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