M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[br21]

Have to remember that M-Sport had 200-250 "old" bodyshells in store when Mk8 came. How many R2/R5 they have built since? They simply have nothing to sell until Mk8 models are ready.

You still can build R5 (or R2) based on used road car, so still possibilities to build new ones.

[Tarmop]

Too much fuzz. A road car a) costs more (in terms of a r5 rallycar not so much ofc) b) has all the unnecessary eq. from sound proofing to paint and is...used c) is old in every way, costs a lot and there are newer cars, which are faster.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

The Mk8 Fiesta R5 is still a way off because it's built by using the ST car which only came out in July 2018. The WRC car used basic shells provided by Ford as far back as Sept 2016.

This was great for the WRC programme and new 2017-spec car but its left a big gap to the new R5 which is their bread and butter.

It's a double-whammy now - the WRC car hasnt sold and their are no new R5's til later next year.

[the sniper]

Is there actually any relevant difference between the bog standard Mk8 Fiesta and the ST version that'd affect the development and homologation of an R5 Mk8 Fiesta? I doubt it.

I think the delay is more down to the distraction of the ongoing and somewhat problematic development of the WRC car, directing resources (man and money) towards this and possibly wishing to wait until the R5 Polo is out so they can see what the benchmark will be for this second generation of R5s.

[br21]

Guys, there is no problem to build brand new R5 car in current spec and cost is same like 5 years ago. And they are still building and selling such cars.

[racerx1979]

Ford deciding to no longer sell the fiesta and focus in tht US says a lot about the company. It might be ideal for Malcom to switch makes. Afterall, he's not tied to any manufacturer and that's what makes MSport such a great company. They can go where the money is... Just have to find it and convince someone, but I can only imagine how difficult that would be. I think it will take some time before they make a big switch.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Is there actually any relevant difference between the bog standard Mk8 Fiesta and the ST version that'd affect the development and homologation of an R5 Mk8 Fiesta? I doubt it.

I think the delay is more down to the distraction of the ongoing and somewhat problematic development of the WRC car, directing resources (man and money) towards this and possibly wishing to wait until the R5 Polo is out so they can see what the benchmark will be for this second generation of R5s.

I was in the group at the tour of their service area for MS-RT Supporters at Rally GB. As well as seeing everything happening there close-up, we were also given a 45 minute talk by one of the bosses.

Among the masses of information we were told, in the part about the making of an R5 car and he definitely said they start with a Fiesta ST from the factory which is then stripped and converted into the rally car.

I assume this is because its a Ford (and not manufactured by M-Sport) and so has to be an actual road car to start with. Plus the engine also has to start as a factory 1.6 Ecoboost which is then 'optimised' by the engineers.

The new ST has a 1.5T 3-cylinder engine so maybe they had to wait for this to develop for the new R5 ?

[mknight]

Mitsubishi (given the rumors).
Anyway, it's prbly better to start before Ford pulls out completely, rater than be surprised by it like prodrive did.

[deephouse]

Or take on board Volkswagen... Hehe I'm joking.

[dupanton]

If M-Sport would start with another make, they would have done it already for the new R2 and R5 car they are going to homologate next year.