Centenary for Ford Focus World Rally Car

For immediate release: 14 October 2005

Centenary celebrations for Ford Focus World Rally Car

The Rallye de France Tour de Corse marks the 100th world rally for the Ford Focus World Rally Car. Since its debut on the opening round of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship, the Monte Carlo Rally, the Focus has won 16 world rallies and claimed a remarkable 59 podium finishes.

Colin McRae has started the most rallies (56) in a Focus WRC as a nominated driver followed by Markko Märtin (43) and Carlos Sainz (42). Märtin has claimed the most manufacturer points scoring finishes (28) ahead of Sainz (27) and McRae (25). The Focus has completed 4040 special stages and set 336 fastest times. It has led for 299 stages.

The 99 rallies completed so far have produced many high points. BP-Ford World Rally Team director Malcolm Wilson, the man who has overseen all 99 Focus starts, selects his five highlights:

Safari Rally 1999: "This was my proudest moment in team management. Kenya's Safari Rally was an event unlike any other in the world championship. The nature of the roads, the long competitive sections and the heat combined to make it the toughest event in the calendar. It was unique and we had no right to win there - but we did. It was only our third event with the Ford Focus and just a couple of months previously we had all been working 24 hours a day simply to get the car ready for its first rally. Colin McRae drove superbly and the car was so strong that it just soaked up all the punishment that Kenya's roads could inflict."

Rally Catalunya 2000: "Colin McRae won on Spain's asphalt and it was our first win on that surface with the Focus in the car's 19th rally. Carlos Sainz finished third as well and in terms of results that was our best performance to date. It was important for the team to win on sealed surfaces, to prove the car could compete anywhere."

Cyprus Rally 2000: "Just five rallies later, we went to what was a brand new event in the championship and came away with a fantastic 1-2. We had done the same just three rallies earlier in Greece but this was special because we had never been there before. I had a feeling beforehand that this was made for Carlos and he led home Colin. Carlos was always a strong contender on new rallies and his preparation and ability paid off handsomely here."

Rally Finland 2003: "Early in 2003 we debuted a stunning new Focus RS WRC. It was designed by Christian Loriaux and one of our main targets was to build a car that could outpace our rivals on the faster rallies. They don't come any faster than Finland! Markko Märtin had already won with the car in Greece but this was the type of event that we built the car around. It is a true classic and traditionally non-Nordic drivers don't get a look in. Didier Auriol and Carlos Sainz were the only two who had won there before Markko brought the Focus home 45 seconds clear. It was a huge margin on such a fast event and it proved the Focus was the quickest car in the championship. The scenes at the finish with all the blue, black and white Estonian flags flying were incredible."

Cyprus Rally 2005: "We finished fifth and sixth - but that wasn't the important thing. The results meant we had become the first manufacturer in the history of the championship to record 50 points finishes. The record run started on the Monte Carlo Rally in 2002 and fifth for Toni Gardemeister and sixth for Roman Kresta brought up the half century. When I look back at the calibre of drivers who contributed to the record, I feel extremely proud. But, more than anything, the run is a tribute to the speed, reliability and strength of the Ford Focus WRC."

NOTE: Please find attached full statistics of the WRC history of the Ford Focus

ENDS

0 – 99 for Focus in the FIA World Rally Championship

1999 Manufacturer teams could only nominate two cars per event. The second
nominated driver could be changed. Top six finishers scored points. Ford scored a total of 37 manufacturer points and finished fourth in the championship. Colin McRae finished sixth in the drivers' championship with 23 points, Thomas Rådström was eleventh with six points and Petter Solberg 17th with two points.

1. Rallye Monte Carlo
Exc Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Exc Simon Jean-Joseph / Fred Gallagher

2. Swedish Rally
3rd Thomas Rådström / Fred Gallagher Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

3. Safari Rally
1st Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 5th Petter Solberg / Fred Gallagher

4. Rally Portugal
1st Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 11th Petter Solberg / Fred Gallagher

5. Rally Catalunya
Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Simon Jean-Joseph / Fred Gallagher

6. Tour de Corse
4th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Simon Jean-Joseph / Fred Gallagher

7. Rally Argentina
6th Thomas Rådström / Fred Gallagher Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

8. Acropolis Rally
Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Thomas Rådström / Fred Gallagher

9. Rally New Zealand
Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Thomas Rådström / Fred Gallagher

10. Rally Finland
Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Thomas Rådström / Fred Gallagher

11. China Rally
Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Thomas Rådström / Fred Gallagher

12. Rallye Sanremo
7th Simon Jean-Joseph / Fred Gallagher Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

13. Rally Australia
7th Thomas Rådström / Fred Gallagher Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

14. Rally of Great Britain
6th Thomas Rådström / Fred Gallagher Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

2000 Manufacturer teams could only nominate two cars per event. The second
nominated driver could be changed. Top six finishers scored points. The team finished second in the manufacturers' championship with 91 points. Carlos Sainz finished third with 46 points and Colin McRae fourth in the drivers' series with 43.

15. Rallye Monte Carlo
2nd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

16. Swedish Rally
3rd Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

17. Safari Rally
4th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

18. Rally Portugal
3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

19. Rally Catalunya
1st Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

20. Rally Argentina
Ret Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

21. Acropolis Rally
1st Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 2nd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

22. Rally New Zealand
2nd Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

23. Rally Finland
2nd Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 14th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

24. Cyprus Rally
1st Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 2nd Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

25. Tour de Corse
3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

26. Rallye Sanremo
5th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 6th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

27. Rally Australia
Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Exc Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

28. Rally of Great Britain
4th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

2001 Manufacturer teams could only nominate two cars per event. The second
nominated driver could be changed. Top six finishers scored points. The team finished second in the manufacturers' championship with 86 points. Colin McRae claimed second position in the drivers' series with 42 points, Carlos Sainz was sixth with 33 points.

29. Rallye Monte Carlo
2nd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

30. Swedish Rally
3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 9th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

31. Rally Portugal
2nd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

32. Rally Catalunya
5th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

33. Rally Argentina
1st Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

34. Cyprus Rally
1st Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

35. Acropolis Rally
1st Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

36. Safari Rally
Ret Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

37. Rally Finland
3rd Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 6th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

38. Rally New Zealand
2nd Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 4th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

39. Rallye Sanremo
4th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 8th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

40. Tour de Corse
11th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

41. Rally Australia
5th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 8th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

42. Rally of Great Britain
Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist Ret Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

2002 Manufacturer teams could nominate a third driver for points. Top two finishing cars
eligible to score points for the manufacturer. Top six finishers scored points. Ford finished second in the manufacturers' championship with 104 points. Carlos Sainz finished third in the drivers' championship with 36 points, Colin McRae fourth with 35 points and Markko Märtin ninth with 20 points.

43. Rallye Monte Carlo
3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 4th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist
12th Markko Märtin / Michael Park

44. Swedish Rally
3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 6th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

45. Rallye de France
6th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 8th Markko Märtin / Michael Park
Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

46. Rally Catalunya
6th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 8th Markko Märtin / Michael Park
Ret Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

47. Cyprus Rally
6th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 8th Markko Märtin / Michael Park
11th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

48. Rally Argentina
1st Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 3rd Colin McRae / Nicky Grist
4th Markko Märtin / Michael Park

49. Acropolis Rally
1st Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya
6th Markko Märtin / Michael Park

50. Safari Rally
1st Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 4th Markko Märtin / Michael Park
Ret Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

51. Rally Finland
4th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 5th Markko Märtin / Michael Park
Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist

52. Rallye Deutschland
4th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist 6th Markko Märtin / Michael Park
8th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

53. Rallye Sanremo
5th Markko Märtin / Michael Park 8th Colin McRae / Nicky Grist
Ret Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya

54. Rally New Zealand
4th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya Ret Colin McRae / Nicky Grist
Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park

55. Rally Australia
4th Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya 5th Markko Märtin / Michael Park
Ret Colin McRae / Derek Ringer

56. Rally GB
2nd Markko Märtin / Michael Park 3rd Carlos Sainz / Luis Moya
5th Colin McRae / Derek Ringer

2003 Manufacturer teams could nominate a third driver for points. Top two finishing cars
eligible to score points for the manufacturer. Top eight finishers scored points. The team finished fourth in the manufacturers' championship with 93 points. Markko Märtin finished fifth with 49 points and Francois Duval in ninth with 30 points.

57. Rallye Monte Carlo
4th Markko Märtin / Michael Park 7th François Duval / Jean-Marc Fortin
Ret Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen

58. Swedish Rally
4th Markko Märtin / Michael Park 11th Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen
Ret François Duval / Jean-Marc Fortin

59. Rally of Turkey
3rd François Duval / Stéphane Prévot 6th Markko Märtin / Michael Park
Ret Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen

60. Rally New Zealand
9th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot 10th Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen
Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park

61. Rally Argentina
8th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot 16th Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen
Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park

62. Acropolis Rally
1st Markko Märtin / Michael Park Ret François Duval / Stéphane Prévot
Ret Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen

63. Cyprus Rally
6th Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park
Ret François Duval / Stéphane Prévot

64. Rallye Deutschland
5th Markko Märtin / Michael Park 7th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot
13th Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen

65. Rally Finland
1st Markko Märtin / Michael Park Ret François Duval / Stéphane Prévot
Ret Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen

66. Rally Australia
9th Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen 10th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot
Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park

67. Rallye Sanremo
3rd Markko Märtin / Michael Park 5th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot
Ret Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen

68. Rallye de France
3rd François Duval / Stéphane Prévot 10th Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen
Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park

69. Rally Catalunya
3rd Markko Märtin / Michael Park 4th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot
14th Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen

70. Rally GB
5th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park
Ret Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen

2004 Manufacturer teams could only nominate two cars per event. The second
nominated driver could be changed. Top eight finishers scored points. The team finished second in the series with 143 points. Markko Märtin finished third with 79 points and François Duval sixth with 53 points in the drivers' series.

71. Rallye Monte Carlo
2nd Markko Märtin / Michael Park 3rd François Duval / Stéphane Prévot

72. Swedish Rally
4th Janne Tuohino / Jukka Aho 7th Markko Märtin / Michael Park

73. Rally Mexico
1st Markko Märtin / Michael Park 2nd François Duval / Stéphane Prévot

74. Rally New Zealand
3rd Markko Märtin / Michael Park 18th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot

75. Cyprus Rally
2nd Markko Märtin / Michael Park Ret François Duval / Stéphane Prévot

76. Acropolis Rally
4th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park

77. Rally of Turkey
5th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot 24th Markko Märtin / Michael Park

78. Rally Argentina
3rd François Duval / Stéphane Prévot Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park

79. Rally Finland
2nd Markko Märtin / Michael Park 5th Janne Tuohino / Jukka Aho

80. Rallye Deutschland
2nd François Duval / Stéphane Prévot 4th Markko Märtin / Michael Park

81. Rally Japan
3rd Markko Märtin / Michael Park Ret Francois Duval / Stéphane Prévot

82. Rally GB
3rd Markko Märtin / Michael Park 5th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot

83. Rally Italia Sardinia
5th François Duval / Stéphane Prévot Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park

84. Rallye de France
1st Markko Märtin / Michael Park Ret François Duval / Stéphane Prévot

85. Rally Catalunya
1st Markko Märtin / Michael Park Ret François Duval / Stéphane Prévot

86. Rally Australia
3rd François Duval / Stéphane Prévot Ret Markko Märtin / Michael Park

2005 Manufacturer teams could only nominate two cars per event. The second nominated driver could be changed. Top eight finishers scored points. Ford currently lies third with three events remaining this year. Gardemeister is fifth with 50 points and Kresta lies eighth with 18 points in the drivers' series.

87. Rallye Monte Carlo
2nd Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen 8th Roman Kresta / Jan Tománek

88. Swedish Rally
3rd Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen 5th Henning Solberg / Cato Menkerud

89. Rally Mexico
6th Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen Ret Dani Solà / Xavier Amigo
90. Rally New Zealand
6th Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen

91. Rally Italia Sardinia
5th Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen 6th Roman Kresta / Jan Možný

92. Cyprus Rally
5th Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen 6th Roman Kresta / Jan Možný

93. Rally of Turkey
6th Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen 7th Roman Kresta / Jan Možný

94. Acropolis Rally
2nd Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen Ret Roman Kresta / Jan Možný

95. Rally Argentina
4th Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen 11th Roman Kresta / Jan Možný

96. Rally Finland
5th Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen 6th Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen

97. Rally Deutschland
6th Roman Kresta / Jan Tománek 17th Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen

98. Rally Great Britain
6th Roman Kresta / Jan Tománek Exc Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen

99. Rally Japan
6th Toni Gardemeister / Jakke Honkanen 7th Roman Kresta / Jan Tománek

The Statistics

Number of events started in a Focus WRC (eligible for points):

Colin McRae and Nicky Grist / Derek Ringer 56
Markko Märtin and Michael 'Beef' Park 43
Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya 42
François Duval and Jean-Marc Fortin / Stéphane Prévot 29
Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen 15
Toni Gardemeister and Jakke Honkanen 13
Roman Kresta and Jan Tománek / Jan Možný 9
Thomas Rådström and Fred Gallagher 8
Simon Jean-Joseph and Fred Gallagher 4
Janne Tuohino and Jukka Aho 2
Petter Solberg and Fred Gallagher 2
Henning Solberg and Cato Menkerud 1
Dani Solà / Xavier Amigo 1

Points scoring finishes – driver contribution to the record:

Markko Märtin and Michael Park 28
Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya 27
Colin McRae and Nicky Grist / Derek Ringer 27
François Duval and Jean-Marc Fortin / Stéphane Prévot 18
Toni Gardemeister and Jakke Honkanen 11
Roman Kresta and Jan Tománek / Jan Možný 7
Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen 5
Thomas Rådström and Fred Gallagher 3
Janne Tuohino and Jukka Aho 2
Simon Jean-Joseph and Fred Gallagher 1
Petter Solberg and Fred Gallagher 1
Henning Solberg and Cato Menkerud 1
Dani Solà / Xavier Amigo 1

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