LV Focus XR5 Turbo Rally Car

[zetec]

Hey Everyone,

Here's some pretty awesome pics sent to me from a mate who works at a Ford Dealership and knows some pretty entusiastic Focus/Fiesta owners. I assume this is someone that a customer of his knows and I suspect the fordxr5turbo guys probably know about this, bit I haven't seen the pics here yet!

I'm told it's a Rally car being developed in Perth. My money's on an English/Irish ex-pat.

Enjoy.

[Bucknaked]

Wow. That's pretty impressive. Taking a brand new car and turning it into a rally car. Is it dirt or Tarmac? Would be a blast. I've done a tarmac rally once in a BA pursuit and that was the best fun ever. I imagine this will be just as good. Only thing I don't like, is the RS badge. It's an XR5, yep I know it's an ST, but it's complied in Australia, so it's an XR5, not an ST and certainly not an RS. That's my only criticism, but apart from that, big thumbs up for having the idea to take an XR5 and make it into a Rally.

[zetec]

Yeah certainly big balls required to do that - awesome!

Looks like a solid Tarmac spec, with some rather sticky rubber and decent sized rims. I'd imagine they aren't very appropriate for gravel/dirt, despite the mudflaps.

[Bucknaked]

Nice big brakes too. Must be a real weapon. I imagine it's had some good performance upgrades too. Love to see a vid of it in action.

[zetec]

And unless it's finished, it's definitely not going to be a serious gravel weapon with a standard handbrake...

[zetec]

Definitely a Ford tuning house for road cars....

http://www.blackmac.com.au/index.html

And it looks like a performance arm of McInerney Ford in W.A.

[galaxy xr8]

Nice little pocket rocket that's for sure.

[XR5-Boy]

I just splooged

btw, that's brand spankers. it's a 2010 model for sure. You can tell by the surround of the Starter button

[Tj-zetec]

I have been following this on the xr forums and it's quite impressive. It's been a complete nut and bolt rebuild.
And while I agree with you on the RS badges, I don't mind guys that have rebadged them as ST's. And the "compliance" plate (I think it's actually more of a build plate) calls it a focus ST. Annoyingly too, it has a diagram of a three door on it too. If we actually got those out here I would not have even considered a five door.

[Corzza]

Very nice!!

Is this a genuine RS or a XR5T dressed up to be a RS?

[XR5-Boy]

Originally Posted by Corzza

Very nice!!

Is this a genuine RS or a XR5T dressed up to be a RS?

Nah, just the badges. RS has a diff body, engine etc etc

[DBourne]

It's a 5 with genuine RS bonnet.

Awesome build thread on xr5turbo

[XR5-Boy]

Here's the entire shoot if anyone wants a look

http://s148.photobucket.com/home/cri...Events/set/694

Build thread from the XR5 forums

http://www.fordxr5turbo.com/forum/in...ic,7619.0.html

[zc347]

Hi guys, just a bit of an update on the car. It's being handed over to the customer in the next couple of days, it will then be setup properly at a private test and tune day. It's first outing will be the Targa South West here in WA on the 29th and 30th of May. It has been built as a Tarmac Rally car to run in M3 class. A lot of info on the build can be found on the XR5 forum.

[Tj-zetec]

I wonder if it will make it to any east coast events, I'd really like to see/hear this thing up close.

[mrbaxr6t]

:sm_drool:

what it must be like to have the money to do something like this I will never know

[zc347]

Originally Posted by Tj-zetec

I wonder if it will make it to any east coast events, I'd really like to see/hear this thing up close.

It is planned to be entered into the Targa Tasmania next year, it just missed out this year. I have no doubt it will probably pop up all around australia, but don't have any more info yet.

[alky89]

cant believe how clean it looks. you can see its decked out but its still looks so respectable. it could almost pass off as a hardcore factory special. just little things like the bit of aluminium where the floormats/carpet used to be makes it so neat.

[Fast Eddie]

Quote: "can't believe how clean it looks".

I for one can't wait to see if it'll be re-painted to suite their sponsors but I agree that I like the plain white.

Do wonder what Championship it'll be competing in (apart the aforementioned Targa Tasmania). Dutton's Rally Series perhaps?

[Argonautica]

wow...APs are a it OTT for such a small car, but look great. well done to the owner.

[alky89]

i actually think this is much nicer than something covered in wild paint schemes and brand names. its refreshing to see something with no big garish wings and bodykits that can smash some of those crazier looking cars.

[crispymk2]

Removed.

[zetec]

Guys - just found out these pics were taken by crispymk2 - full credit must go to him for these.

I received them in an email from another Ford Dealer with no idea who took them - clearly it's a pretty exciting project making its way around the Ford network so we can truly thanks crispymk2 for his great shots!!

[crispymk2]

thanks Zetec, the project has also reached completion with the car due for scrutineering shortly followed by a shakedown run at Barbagallos hill climb track (provided the owner can make it back from the UK!)

Hopefully I can get some shots of it on the track.

Here are some recent shots with the graphics package completed:











Full set:
http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s...ld%20progress/

[Fast Eddie]

Hey Crispy,

Any chance the owner has or has had a Focus ST170 in their possession because I've got a hunch that I know the previous owner??

Eddie.

[crispymk2]

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

Hey Crispy,

Any chance the owner has or has had a Focus ST170 in their possession because I've got a hunch that I know the previous owner??

Eddie.

Hey may have, I only know he is a bit of a small Ford lover. His surname is on the side of the car, Bartlett.

[Fast Eddie]

Bingo!!! It's a small world after all.

Thanks.

[alky89]

nooo i liked it better before!!! ah well it still looks nice. certainly more like a rally car now. and much more hardcore.

[casabonka]

one word... wow.

That just looks brilliant!

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by casabonka

one word... wow.

That just looks brilliant!

+1. It looks fantastic. Love the vinyls. The car really does look the business. Great job.