Biggest ever program for Ford

BIRMINGHAM, England, 11 January 2001 - Ford will be operating its most comprehensive programme of rally sport in 2001, under plans revealed at the Autosport International Show today (Thursday). Ford Focus RS WRC cars will be in action on 14 rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship, and on seven national championships across Europe and the Middle East. Ford Puma Super 1600 cars will tackle six rounds of the world series and a host of top-class national championships while the low-cost, high-spec Ka Rally car now provides the first step onto Ford's Ladder of Opportunity in five European countries.

"The World Rally Championship is clearly Ford's most important global motorsport activity," commented Martin Whitaker, European Director of Ford Racing. "But top-class rallying outside the world championship can also provide a splendid platform on which to demonstrate the speed, durability and advanced technology of Ford products. Now Ford is taking the opportunity to demonstrate the key qualities of the Focus and Puma brands to a much wider local audience by entering the premier rallies in locations covering much of Europe and several Middle East countries."

<pre> Ford's rally sport plans for 2001 include: FIA World Rally Championship 3 Focus RS WRC cars on most of the 14 rounds FIA Super 1600 Championship 3 Puma 1600 cars on all six rounds British Rally Championship 1 Focus RS WRC car on all seven rounds Austria, Finland, Middle East 1 Focus RS WRC on all events Czech Republic, Poland 1 Focus RS WRC on all events Formula Rally (Britain) 2 Rapid Fit Puma Super 1600 cars on all rounds Belgian Rally Championship 1 Puma Super 1600 car on three events Ka Rally Championships in UK, Ireland, Belgium, Turkey, Rumania

-Ford Racing