When Ford rolled out the new Focus, it launched a program to adapt the car to various touring car racing specifications. The car has been performing admirably in the British Touring Car Championship, winning several races last season with Arena Motorsport to finish second in the teams standings. But now Ford's reportedly got its eye on a bigger prize.
According to Autosport, Dearborn is considering sending the Focus ST touring car up to the World Touring Car Championship. To that end, they've reportedly retained the services of the same Arena Motorsport that fields the car in the BTCC and which has, in its considerable history, run teams in A1GP, Formula Three, Le Mans and even Fomula One – scoring a podium finish under the Onyx Grand Prix banner with Stefan Johansson behind the wheel and Ford power under the hood at the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix, just behind Gerhard Berger and Alain Prost.
The last time Ford competed in the WTCC was in 2005. But while the World Championship may not currently race in America, don't think that American automakers aren't interested in the series. The Chevrolet Cruze currently dominates the standings its factory drivers Robert Huff, Alain Menu and defending champion Yvan Muller currently holding the top three slots in the standings. Ford, it would seem, is eager to take a slice of that particular pie.
According to Autosport, Dearborn is considering sending the Focus ST touring car up to the World Touring Car Championship. To that end, they've reportedly retained the services of the same Arena Motorsport that fields the car in the BTCC and which has, in its considerable history, run teams in A1GP, Formula Three, Le Mans and even Fomula One – scoring a podium finish under the Onyx Grand Prix banner with Stefan Johansson behind the wheel and Ford power under the hood at the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix, just behind Gerhard Berger and Alain Prost.
The last time Ford competed in the WTCC was in 2005. But while the World Championship may not currently race in America, don't think that American automakers aren't interested in the series. The Chevrolet Cruze currently dominates the standings its factory drivers Robert Huff, Alain Menu and defending champion Yvan Muller currently holding the top three slots in the standings. Ford, it would seem, is eager to take a slice of that particular pie.
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