Ford Racing Offers Rally Package for Fiesta, Announces Fiesta Class for Rally America Series

•Ford Racing Performance Group is bringing the Fiesta R2 rally kit to the U.S., developed by M-Sport, a move expected to thrill rally enthusiasts across the country

•The R2 package offers several performance upgrades to give competitors a turnkey, rally-ready Fiesta, including powertrain enhancements that pump out 168 horsepower and 134 lb.-ft. of torque

•New Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship will debut in RallyCar's Rally America Series 2WD class for 2011, designed specifically for competitors who have the Fiesta R2 package installed by Team O'Neil

For rally fans looking to imitate what successful Ford rally drivers Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latlava and Ken Block have accomplished, a new Fiesta R2 rally package is the place to start.

Currently available throughout Europe, Ford Racing Performance Group is bringing the competition-ready package stateside to let enthusiasts turn their five-door Fiesta into a Fiesta R2 that's ready to compete on the roads of RallyCar's Rally America National Championship. The package is now available for order through Team O'Neil Motorsports, a division of Team O'Neil Rally School in New Hampshire (info@teamoneil.com).

"The spirit of One Ford is making it possible for us to bring the best of European rally racing to competitors in the U.S.," said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsport. "The Fiesta R2 has already proven itself in Europe as a great platform for aspiring rally drivers."

The winner of the 2011 U.S. Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship will also have the opportunity to compete in the R2 class during next year's Wales Rally GB.

Developed by M-Sport, Ford's WRC partner since 1997, the kit will convert a production Fiesta to rally specification. Included in the package are engine parts that will increase the performance of the 1.6-liter Ti-VCT four-cylinder engine: pistons, conrods, camshafts, valve springs, injectors, airbox, air filter and a sump baffle kit. The performance enhancements deliver 168 horsepower and 134 lb.-ft. of torque, a 40 percent increase in horsepower over the production Fiesta.

Other upgrades include:

•Five-speed Sadev sequential gearbox with flat shift gear cut

•Reiger adjustable dampers with Eibach springs

•Ventilated disc brakes with AP four-piston competition calipers

•T45 steel multipoint roll cage

Team O'Neil Motorsports is the official reseller and authorized installer for the R2 kits. Only cars prepared by Team O'Neil will be eligible for the U.S. Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship.

"The R2 kit provides a fantastic performance and dynamic upgrade for the already strong and light Fiesta platform, transforming it into an instantly competitive and durable rally car," said Tim O'Neil, founder and president. "We're really excited to be able to offer this to North American rally drivers."

In addition to the full R2 kit, Ford Racing will also offer a Stage 1 kit based on the R2 package.

The Stage 1 kit will include parts designed for the rigors of rallying, including a roll cage, ball joints, engine performance upgrades, dampers and a limited-slip differential. The package will offer competitors a lower-cost entry point to take a Fiesta rallying.

New Fiesta Sport Trophy class

Enthusiasts who add the R2 package to their Fiesta will have the ability to compete in the Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship in RallyCar's Rally America National Championship 2WD class in 2011. The winner of the Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship will be awarded a ride in the R2 class in a Fiesta at Wales Rally GB. Additionally, the winner from the class will have the opportunity to compete in the Fiesta SportTrophy International Shootout in Great Britain for a chance to win a year's residential placement at M-Sport, working with the BP Ford World Rally team.

"Over the last two years, Ford Racing and the Fiesta have made a significant impact in the AWD Open class of RallyCar's Rally America, at X Games and in the debut of RallyCross," said JB Niday, managing director of RallyCar. "To see that emphasis expand into the 2WD class with an opportunity like the Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship is a tremendous indicator of the value placed on the Fiesta program and the commitment to growing Fiesta through rally by Ford."

The rally kit also is the perfect way for enthusiasts to appreciate all that the Fiesta offers.

"Not only are we offering rally enthusiasts a way to experience the full capabilities of Fiesta, but we're also giving them an amazing opportunity to test their skills in Europe on their way to perhaps realizing a dream of competing in the WRC," said Allison.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

The WRC Academy is launched

Block scores first championship points at WRC Spain

Monster World Rally Team’s Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino finish Rally de España 9^th overall, earning them their first WRC points, making Block the second American driver to ever score points in the championship. 

Coming off a 12^th place finish at Rally France, Monster World Rally Team’s Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino entered Rally Spain with one goal—finishing in the top 10, subsequently earning their first World Rally Championship points. And right from the first stage, the two were on pace to do so. 

Day 1 of the Catalunya-based rally offered something different to the drivers: gravel stages. To celebrate its 20^th year as a WRC round, Rally de Catalunya–Costa Daurada reverted back to its original mixed-surface format—a unique challenge the WRC hasn’t seen since 1996—which actually gave Block and Gelsomino an advantage for putting down some fast Leg 1 times. “It felt great to get back out on gravel,” said Block. “While our speed is starting to improve on tarmac, we still have very few sealed surface miles under our belt and are only at the beginning of our development phase on paved stages. So we are still most confident on dirt.” And the times proved it. On the first stage of the rally, Block managed to keep only 1.6 seconds per kilometer off the stage winner and seven-time World Champion Sebastian Loeb. The team then maintained this time per kilometer off the top five drivers throughout the leg. The day’s steady push landed the American team in 9^th overnight, leaving them in a solid position to attack the next two days on tarmac.

The following day, Block and Gelsomino’s momentum was quickly thwarted with an off on the morning’s second stage. “We miscalculated a turn during recce and hadn’t noted it as a decreasing radius,” said Block. “By the time I realized this, it was too late to correct and we went off into a field.” While they were able to get the Monster Energy Ford Focus RS back onto the road, a small grass fire, caused by the hot exhaust, had to be extinguished before moving on. The entire excursion cost Block and Gelsomino an expensive 4 minutes, which, at the end of the rally, resulted in the difference of two positions and four championship points. 

Heading into the final day of the rally, Block and Gelsomino sat 10^th overall, but with Citroën factory driver Sebastien Ogier’s sights set on their points-scoring position, after his Day 2 crash, it wasn’t going to be an easy Sunday. “I knew with Ogier trying to hunt us down, we couldn’t continue with our Day 2 pace. We had no choice but to step it up,” said Block. Over the final four stages, Block and Gelsomino, for the first time, showed their gravel speed and confidence on tarmac, managing to keep within 1.5 seconds per kilometer off the Frenchman who is currently sitting 2^nd overall in the championship, and holding off his attack in the process. 

The Monster World Rally Team finished Rally de España 9^th overall, which earned Block and Gelsomino two championship points. The last American to score a point in the championship was Block’s mentor John Buffum, both at the 1988 Olympus Rally and the 1984 Acropolis Rally. 

“Even though it may have taken a few more rallies than I would’ve liked, I am super stoked on our result in Spain, and I am happy this first hurdle of earning WRC points is now behind us,” said Block. 

The next and final WRC round of the year for MWRT is Rally Great Britain. Until then, follow the team at monsterworldrallyteam.com. 



McCormack and Farrell win Rally New York

Forestburgh, New York (October 24, 2010)    Enda McCormack and Bernard Farrell driving a Mitsubishi Evo 9 won the Rally New York Autumn Rallysprint 2010 yesterday. McCormack’s other recent success is the third place in the 2010 United States Rally Championship concluded at the final round at Prescott, Arizona earlier this month.

            Autumn Rallysprint 2010 was a short rally with 50 miles of special stages and the total length of 86 miles. This one-day Rallysprint offers reconnaissance in the morning followed by competition that starts in late morning.

            A small but competent field ran a single stage two times in each direction and this was repeated again after the lunch break. The event was marked by close competition and several racing accidents, none of which resulted in any injuries, and ran on time all day. Watching rally cars blasting down the long hill followed by a high-speed turn at the Aquehonga Spectator Area was a real treat for true rally enthusiasts.

            Tom Lawless, the 2010 United States Rally Champion, codriven by Alex Kihurani in another Mitsubishi Evo 9 lost his turbo on the first stage and rejoined the fight under Super Rally rules. He battled valiantly by winning five of the remaining six stages and whittling down the stage record to mere 5 minutes and 2 seconds on the last stage. This was a 45-second improvement over the previous stage record established by Seamus Burke in 2007. Without diminishing Lawless’ achievement, this large improvement was in part caused by the fact that the Mortimer Schiff road was in a better shape than ever because of the road improvement program by Rally New York, Ltd. Lawless could not overcome the Super Rally penalties and ended up fifth overall.

            O’Brien and McCabe in a Subaru WRX STi also broke the old stage record on the first three stages but were sidelined by an engine failure.

            Second place overall and the first in Two-Wheel-Drive went to Greg Healey and Aaron Crescenti after an outstanding drive in an old Datsun 280Z.

            Niall Johnson with Daniela Manago in a Subaru WRX achieved a big success with their third place overall and a win in Production All-Wheel-Drive with amazingly consistent stage times just over six minutes.

            Competition was very close with Don Kennedy and Jeremy Neyhart in a Subaru Impreza in the fourth overall rounding up the top five.

Results:

1. Enda McCormack / Bernard Farrell, Mitsubishi Evo 9, 1^st AWD, 0:44:05

2. Greg Healey / Aaron Crescenti, Datsun 280Z, 1^st 2WD, 0:50:05

3. Niall Johnson / Daniela Manago, Subaru WRX, 1^st Production AWD, 0:50:34

4. Donald Kennedy / Jeremy Neyhart, Subaru Impreza, 0:52:08

5. Thomas Lawless / Alex Kihurani, Mitsubishi Evo 9, 0:53:33

6. Adam Krolikowski / Richard Perez, Subaru WRX, 0:57:05

7. Liam Mulvey / Brain Kirby, Mazda RX3, 1:10:12

8. Bill Doyle / Terran Olson, BMW 325i, 1^st Production 2WD, 1:13:07

9. Justin Carven / Ayo Carven, VW Rabbit TDI, 1:23:11

10. Martin Shekleton / Brian McNamara, Eagle Talon, DNF

11. Danny O’Brien / Brendan McCabe, Subaru WRX STi, DNF

12. Matt Gottlieb / Austin Gager, Subaru WRX, DNF

13. Joseph Reilly / John O’Reilly, Eagle Talon, DNS

            The Autumn Rallysprint 2010 was the final round of the New York Rally Championship – Thunder 102 Cup, sponsored by Tearoff Guys (www.tearoffguys.com) and presented by Thunder 102 Rally Radio (www.thunder102.com). The event took place in beautiful weather on excellent roads on Ten Mile River Scout Reservation in Narrowsburg, New York and was enjoyed by all.

            More information about the New York Rally Championship and Rally New York events can be found at http://www.rallynewyork.com/ . 



RALLYCROSS HITS THE AIRWAVES STARTING IN OCTOBER ON NBC’S WORLD OF ADVENTURE SPORTS!

Friday, October 22, 2010
Aura360 signs deal to secure media distribution for Rallycross and 360 Productions to produce Series for television


All the great results and event highlights from the inaugural 2010 RallyCar rallycross season are coming to broadcast television this fall as featured content on NBC’s World of Adventure Sports.

Four rounds of rallycross from New Jersey Motorsports Park, where the U.S. was introduced to rally cars competing wheel-to-wheel on a short tarmac and dirt course, will be highlighted in multiple episodes airing throughout the remaining 2010 season and into 2011.

The World of Adventure Sports; a multiple time Emmy Award nominee and winner is a leader in capturing the globe’s most demanding sports, combining incredible action and behind-the-scenes content with high level story telling production.

Shows broadcasting rally and rallycross content will air on the following dates:

October 31st, 2010, 3:00pm - 4:00pm ET Red Bull Speed Chasers
November 14th, 2010, 3:00pm - 4:00pm ET Round 1 Rallycross Championship
December 19th, 2010, 3:00pm - 4:00pm ET BAJA
January 16th, 2011, 3:00pm - 4:00pm ET Round 2 Rallycross Championship

Additional 2011 Schedule times will be announced in the coming weeks.

Boasting huge audiences and a very diverse fan base in Europe, rallycross sits at the intersection of rally, drifting, and road racing disciplines and features stars from each respective autosport. It is widely believed that rallycross racing in America is changing the face of motorsports, attracting teams from around the world and bringing exotic racecars never seen on American soil to compete against the U.S.A.’s best drivers.

A race consists of five rally style cars jumping and sliding on a road course made up of pavement AND dirt. Five drivers line up to start at once, piloting high-horsepower compact cars through race traffic over a challenging short course that features jumps, unbanked turns, hills and transitions between pavement and gravel. Each car must also take a “Joker” lap at some point during their heat. A Joker Lap is a small detour that adds a level of unpredictability to the heat’s outcome by changing a driver’s strategy in an instant.

"It's an incredibly challenging and aggressive sport," said driver Tanner Foust, who has been competing in European championship events this season. "The action is non-stop and the fans can't get enough of it."

RallyCar’s initial events have attracted top talent from the European Rallycross Championship (ERC) as their season ended in September to compete against U.S.A.’s finest. The European teams brought exotic racing machines never before seen in America, such as Liam Doran’s 2009 Citroen C4 and Frode Holte’s 2010 Volvo C30. Each of these machines packs a punch powered by 550 horsepower engines, All-Wheel-Drive drivetrains, and two second 0-60mph acceleration times. They are joined by Sverre Isachsen, two time ERC Champion in rounds 3 and 4.

World of Adventure Sports will chronicle the European challenge as the U.S.A. brings out their top guns; Subaru Rally Team USA’s Travis Pastrana and Dave Mirra, and Rockstar Energy Drink’s Tanner Foust, who won the first two RallyCar rallycross rounds.

The competition became even more interesting with the addition of New Zealand’s Rhys Millen, 2005 Formula DRIFT Champ and ex-Mitsubishi Rally Team driver, who arrived with a 2008 Hyundai Accent that was originally campaigned in the World Rally Championships.


Sponsors of the World of Adventure Sports include Red Bull, Garmin, Oakley, Progressive and BFGoodrich.


About Aura360
Aura360 specializes in animating client brands through innovative event and media properties and related marketing ventures. Aura360’s services are structured into three operating units; Ownership & Ventures, Client Property Development & Management, and Productions. Allied business 360 Productions provides global video production services.

For more information please visit www.aura360.com or www.360Productionsgroup.com.