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Trio of rally-spec Ford Fiestas to tackle X Games

 
4 3,728 views Jul 2, 2009

ford fiesta s01

ford fiesta x games rally cars 2009 001

ford fiesta x games rally cars 2009 001

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Ford's Fiesta small car is just beginning to make its mark in the U.S. with a trial-run for social-media types ahead of its expected American debut early next year. To help get the car's identity - if somewhat loosely interpreted - out to its target audience, Ford is taking on ESPN's X Games with a trio of rally-prepped Fiestas.

The X Games will run from July 30-August 2 in Los Angeles. Behind the wheel of the three Fiestas will be the famous Swedish driver Kenny Brack, driving for Olsbergs Motor Sport Evolution, and also ROCKSTAR Energy Drink drivers Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan.

“The new Fiesta is already creating headlines around the world,” said Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North America Motorsport. “The announcement that it would compete at Pikes Peak was greeted so positively by enthusiasts everywhere. Now, to back it up with competition at the X Games will just create even more buzz for the car.”

The Pike's Peak Fiesta was a sight to behold, looking almost like a WRC-class car and piloted by the brilliant Marcus Gronholm and Andreas Eriksson.

These X Games Fiestas will be somewhat tamer, but still fully capable race cars out to win the X Games Pro Rally title. With drivers like Tanner Foust (2007 X Games Gold Medalist, among many other honors), 1999 Indy 500 winner Kenny Brack, and 10-time motorcross medalist Brian Deegan at the wheels of the cars, Ford won't have any excuses for failing to deliver a win.

This is the first time a Ford has competed as a race car in X Games competition, however. "We are very excited to see the Fiesta competing not only at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, but also at the X Games in LA,” said Jost Capito, director of Ford Global Motorsport Business Development. “The competition will be extremely strong in both events, but we’ve put together a strong team with the ROCKSTAR/BF Goodrich Tires Fiestas and our all star drivers."
Ford Fiesta S performance hatch
Ford Fiesta Pikes Peak 2009

HI-RES GALLERY: ford fiesta s01

HI-RES GALLERY: ford fiesta rally cross pikes peak 004




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Comments (4)

  1. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 7/2/2009 9:55pm PDT

    Do a rally like version for a consumer version in America, like an SVT thing
     
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  2. ma_Chris avatar Chris Posted: 7/3/2009 4:39am PDT

    NND.. you've got it. thats what they need to do. dont do this televised racing crap.. put one on the dealer lot with the 1.6L ecoboost and (as clarkson would put it..) a "laugh outloud" body kit.. and only available in ridiculously loud colours.

    it seems to be the one thing that ford still isnt getting... you need halo TRIM PACKAGES for every model... who cares if no one is ever going to get a 3 door fiesta (which theyve said they wont be making because there wouldnt be a big enough market for it) with a voice commanded 7" touch screen sat nav, all suede interior, with factory 1000W subs, AWD, and turbocharged 6spd drivetrain...... but thats what you have to show off in the commercial.. thats what you have to offer the customer to get their asses in the doors.

    especially on small cars like this. keep selling the big car toys on the small car. thats what works. even the americans who are used to huge powerful cars will give it a second thought if they know its got all the toys theyre used to AND the sort of power they're used to.
     
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  3. ma_Elmo187 avatar Elmo187 Posted: 7/3/2009 10:14am PDT

    really cool to see that they're using full WRC-spec rally cars instead of the stripped down rally versions of the road cars.

    i just don't get how you can race for one manufacturer, then go off and race another manufacturer in a totally different series. Tanner drives a tC in Formula D and is going to drive this in the X-Games.
     
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  4. By  acekard 2 Posted: 2/27/2010 2:35am PST

    Whoever is responsible in Ford's marketing for this and the other racing the Fiesta is doing in the US deserves something incredible. Showing off the Fiesta in where the younger side of the demographic is most likely to view it is a very smart move. Why not pit the Fiesta up against Subaru, which is popular in the younger demographic, partly for its aftermarket capabilities. Ford is covering important demographic bases with this car. This is going to probably be a successful launch.
     
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