Press Release:
Date: 16th January 2007
Released by – Carl Williamson
I can today confirm that M-Sport have signed contracts with myself and BMD, Plovdiv to authorize the formation of a Fiesta SportingTrophy Bulgaria 2007.
Our major sponsor is MotoPfohe, with fantastic support also from Allianz, Ford Ralleysport Turkey, M-Sport and BMD. We are also in negotiations with other sponsors who will be confirmed at a later date.
This is exciting news for Bulgarian rallying as it introduces opportunities that have never before been available in the country.
The Fiesta SportingTrophy is a new Ford Rally One Make Championship. It is designed for both young ambitious drivers and more experienced drivers, co-drivers and teams who want to compete with a package of equal competition on a professional level with low costs. It is possibly the most exciting and challenging way to enter national rallying.
The cars are based on the Ford Fiesta ST. They are modified with competition gearbox, suspension and safety equipment according to FIA Group N regulations. They have 165ps from the 2-litre Duratec ST engine which when combined with the conversion kit from M-Sport, has been designed to provide all of the safety equipment and performance upgrades to enable the car to be competitive and reliable at any event around the world.
The price for a new road car plus a conversion kit will be in the region of 33,000 Euros. The aim is to provide an economical car with an M-Sport commitment to performance and long-term stability.
This championship is unique in Bulgaria because it offers not only equal competition, low costs and professional support from a ‘works’ team, but it also offers a prize structure which is unheard of in Bulgaria.
There will be on-event cash prizes as well as end of season prizes.
All the prizes are to be confirmed at the official launch (to be confirmed – approx 24th January). However, we can confirm today that the top 2 drivers at the end of the year, as well as a wildcard chosen by the organizers, will attend the ‘shoot-out’ at M-Sport’s UK headquarters.
There, you will be competing against the other participating countries for a prize of a lifetime.
After 2 days of psychological, fitness, media and of course driving tests, a winner will be chosen by Malcolm Wilson himself.
The winner will be employed by M-Sport for the following 12 months. This includes free accommodation at the headquarters, salary and test-driving duties on all of Fords rally cars and development cars – right up to WRC level! The lucky winner will also attend ‘every’ round of the World Championship working for the Ford World Rally Team.
This prize is priceless and just the chance to compete for this prize is a fantastic opportunity for Bulgarian Drivers.
Subject to approval from the Bulgarian Federation, the Fiesta SportingTrophy (FST) will consist of 7 rallies, with 6 scores to count to the final classification at the end of the year.
The intention is to provide a parts truck on every rally, to further keep the costs down for the competitor. There will also be hospitality for the competing crews on every rally.
More detailed information will be available at the official launch next week – details will be confirmed on the internet.
Meanwhile, any enquiries can be directed to [email:6jn1nqxd]fst-bg@hotmail.com[/email:6jn1nqxd]
Malcolm Wilson, owner and team manager of M-Sport, had this to say:
"We are delighted to see that plans are now confirmed for the Fiesta SportingTrophy to be established in Bulgaria in 2007 - this will be the tenth country to confirm their programme - a fantastic achievement. The original intention of the FST was to create a format using the excellent dynamic qualities of the Ford Fiesta ST to provide a good platform for drivers to start an association with the Ford brand and M-Sport. It gives us a chance to identify the young drivers coming up through the field and to work with them via the Shoot-Out from an early stage of their careers. The car is designed to be safe, reliable but above all FUN to drive.
There are now over 180 Ford Fiesta ST's competing in 19 countries around the world, we look forward to welcoming Bulgarian drivers to this family and to meeting some of the drivers at our Dovenby Hall HQ at the end of the year.
Good Luck, Malcolm Wilson - M-Sport."
Actually, that's true. I thought my Uncle Tommy was funded by MI, but when I looked closely it was just a very very very VERY very very very rich individual. I don't see the positivity either....
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