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FOR FORDS

A L L T H E AC T I O N F R O M T H E B I G G E S T S H OW O F T H E Y E A R OCTOBER 2021 ISSUE 439 £5.50

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OCTOBER 2021 ISSUE 439 £5.50

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ISSUE 439 - OCTOBER 2021

I

’ll start this issue with an apology; if you were at Ford Fair recently and popped over to the Fast Ford stand for a quick natter, let me apologise for not being on the stand as much as I would have liked. I love nothing more than chatting with readers about their cars; the passion you guys have for your Fords is inspiring, and I love to share in that with you. But, unfortunately, with so many things going on around the show, I was rushed off my feet all day, and subsequently didn’t get the chance to catch up with as many of you as I would have liked.

Still, what a fantastic show it was! Even the rain couldn’t dampen our spirits, and I’m sure I speak for many of you guys when I say its was just what the doctor ordered after such a crappy 18 months of being locked down.

During that time, the travel restrictions in place played havoc with photoshoots for mag features, and with the autumn (and dare I say, the dodgy weather) fast approaching, we decided to take full advantage of that fact so many people would be in the same place at the same time for Ford Fair.

We had two snappers shooting various features throughout the day for future issues,

WWW.FASTFORDMAG.CO.UK

EDITORIAL

EDITOR Jamie King (jamie.king@kelsey.co.uk) ART EDITOR Mark Field SUB EDITOR Dan Williamson CONTRIBUTORS Dan Bevis, Ade Brannan, Dan Williamson, Jason Dodd,

including a special feature on the Modified Ford race cars, a group of MR200 Fiesta STs, and various feature cars too.

And that’s without our full show report in this issue, which is not the only show coverage this month, as Jon Cass was at Croft for the Durham and Derbyshire RSOC event too.

Talking of future issues, next month we’ve got a 132-page special coming your way as we celebrate 25 years of the ST models, and our diary is full of shows and meets for the coming weeks too.

There’s loads of good stuff in the pipeline, but until then...

Enjoy the mag!

Jamie

GET IN TOUCH! EMAIL fastford.ed@kelsey.co.uk FACEBOOK facebook.com/fastfordmag TWITTER twitter.com/fastfordmag INSTAGRAM @fastfordmagazine

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT FORD FAIR? “I’d usually say my favourite thing about Ford Fair was getting up close to some of the iconic and rather special cars the show attracts. But after the last 18 months or so, I now have to say it’s the people – spending the day with like-minded enthusiasts enjoying all things Blue Oval was just what I needed.”

JAMIE, EDITOR

“There’s so many great aspects of Ford Fair, be it the social side of things or spotting cool stuff, but getting on track and going for it is hard to beat! Especially if I get the chance to do some drifting. Few things in life (let alone the show!) can beat smoking up the rears through the complex in front of a packed grandstand!

ADE, PHOTOGRAPHER

“Ford Fair for me is a collection of not just various cars from my generation up to the current models, but a great mix of people too. And this year it was very special after 18 months of restrictions – a great way to celebrate the Blue Oval!”

JASON, PHOTOGRAPHER

“Favourite thing about Ford Fair… I’m genuinely interested in all fast Fords, from the 1960s to the present day, so I enjoy seeing the mix mingling together. It’s as thrilling for me to check out a Mustang Mach-E as a modified Mk1 Cortina; I can spend as long looking at a mint ST170 as a mental RS1700T. But I could do without all the queues...”

DAN WILLIAMSON, SUB-EDITOR & TECH WRITER

Mike Rysiecki, Leigh Jones, M-Sport, MB Motorsport, Paul Lawrence, Dan Sherwood, Jape Tiitenen, Jon Cass

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“Ford Fair is so massive and diverse, my favourite thing about it is the surprises. You spend the whole time being knocked sideways by builds you never expected to see. The GVIEXMZMX] MR XLI *SVH WGIRI ORS[W RS FSYRHW űɄ

DAN BEVIS, WRITER

Ѳ FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

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38 ISSUE 439 OCTOBER 2021

CONTENTS REGULARS

32

16 NEWS What's new in the Ford world?

18 NEW PRODUCTS The latest goodies for your Ford

20 CLUB PROFILE Quick Q&A with the Tangerine Scream ST Owners’ Club

FEATURED CARS

26

10 FIESTA ST

62 PRINT MY FORD Your Blue Ovals in full print glory

Finely fettled Mk7 ST combines power and style for fast road fun

69 PROJECT CARS

22 #HP500 FOCUS RS

See what’s been going on with the Fast Ford project cars

Jamie drives Hendy Performance’s 520bhp big-turbo Mk3 Focus

97 FORGOTTEN FORDS

26 MK2 FOCUS RS

Weird concepts and cancelled projects from the archives

RS on air ride fuses race car performance with show stance

98 NEXT ISSUE

32 SAPH COSSIE

What's coming up in Fast Ford...

A 600bhp Sapphire Cosworth for your first car? Oh, go on then...

SHOWS

22

38 MK1 FOCUS RS

44 RSOC CROFT

Blending a show car finish with useable power hits the sweet spot

All the action from the Durham & Derbyshire RSOC event

90 TRIPLE GARAGE

52 FORD FAIR Full show report from the biggest Blue Oval bash of the year

Winning a 480bhp EsCos completes this trio of fast Fords

48

MOTORSPORT

TECH 82 10 MIN TECH

74 THE CLASSIC, SILVERSTONE

Liqui-Moly tells us more about their range of additives

The legendary RS500s showing they still have what it takes to win

84 BUYING GUIDE: MONDEO ST220

76 BRITISH GT The Mustang scoops victory at Snetterton in the GT4 races

Our advice and tips on buying the flagship the Mondeo range

79 BTCC The MB Motorsport Focuses are still in the Championship hunt

80 WRC

10 6 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

It was a weekend to forget for M-Sport in Belgium recently

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OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

Ѵ

F I E S TA S T

POWER Fusing a show-car finish with useable horsepower, Steven Howells’s Mk7 ST blends form with function Words DAN BEVIS / Photos ADE BRANNAN

C

ars, it goes without saying, are for driving. Sure, there’s a lot to be said for the low-and-lazy cruise to let everyone see the effort you’ve put into your pride and joy. And, of course, we’re very much on board with the show scene, displaying those intricate details that fill your beloved build.

But for the sheer visceral thrill of human being and internal combustion in perfect harmony, all you need is one good road and a little time to enjoy it.

It doesn’t really matter what you drive – if you set your alarm for 5am and head out onto your favourite roads while no one’s around, dominating every apex as the sun comes up in your mirrors, you’re going to have fun in anything. But it really amps up the experience if you’ve got the right car, doesn’t it?

There have been countless ȭѵ FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

ȭȭ

F I E S TA S T

No meshing around

Serious stopping power

12 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

EcoBoosted to 320bhp

automobiles over the years that can be considered good drivers’ cars, but the Mk7 Fiesta ST is genuinely one of the certified alltime greats. During its time in production, it won pretty much every accolade going.

And, as we all know, it’s a pretty damned tuneable car. Outstanding in stock form, yes, but there’s so much potential within the Mk7 platform. Just ask Steven Howells, who’s squeezed a solid 320bhp out of his ST and is always clamouring for more.

Steven says, “I chose this car because I knew what the Mk7’s potential was when modified. And they’re a really good-looking hot hatch, aren’t they?”

Yep, no arguments from us on that front.

And it’s fair to say Steven knows his Blue Oval onions, having been eagerly playing this game

“I was just planning to fit an exhaust and a couple of other bits, but six months later I found myself running a full Stage 3 spec, big-brake kit, the works” TECH SPEC

FIESTA ST ENGINE 1596cc EcoBoost, X47R turbo, Stage 3 software, R-Sport 3in crossover, R-Sport Stage 3 intercooler, JS Performance and Mountune coolant hoses, VUDU big boost pipe kit, ITG induction kit, full 3in Milltek de-cat exhaust system, VUDU oil cap, coolant cap and dipstick, chrome underbonnet mirrors, Paintmodz battery cover, fuse cover, slam panel and coolant cover, engine cover painted blue and carbon-dipped POWER 320.4bhp TRANSMISSION Original Fiesta ST IB6 sixspeed, factory clutch, Collins Performance rear gearbox mount SUSPENSION Factory Fiesta ST dampers with Redline springs (BC Racing coilovers fitted since photoshoot), Summit front and rear strut braces BRAKES Front: K-Sport six-pot callipers with 304x28mm discs; rear: Focus ST170 carriers to allow for 280mm rear discs, HEL yellow braided lines WHEELS & TYRES 7.5x17in Pumaspeed Tracklite wheels in ET35 offset, 4x108 PCD, with 205/40x17 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres EXTERIOR Maxton Designs rear diffuser and spoiler lip, Triple R Composites front, side and rear splitter kit, Zunsport front grilles, CEUK spoiler raisers, WRC bonnet vents, custom headlights with sequential indicators, Autobeam rear bulb upgrade, ST200 rear camera, smoothed rear wiper, gloss black fog surrounds and mirror covers, Mountune rear mud flaps INTERIOR Flat-bottom steering wheel with yellow stitching, Mountune mats and gear lever gaiter, gloss black gearknob with yellow lettering, yellow heater vent overlays

for some time now. As he explains, “I’ve been modifying cars since I had my first Ford back in 2009. Then I bought a Fiesta ST150 in 2012, and I’ve had a few Mk5 Zetec Ss as well.

“In 2015 I bought a Focus ST225, and it was after that one that I got this stunning example of an ST180 from Platinum Cars in Merthyr Tydfil. The car only had 27k miles on the clock, along with a full service history; it was mostly standard, but with a front splitter and lowered on Redline springs.”

When he bought the Fiesta, Steven wasn’t really planning on doing very much to it in terms of modifications. Although, to be honest, if we were given a quid for every time a feature car owner suggested that, the entire Fast Ford office would be tearing about in shiny new Ford GTs. “I was just planning to fit an exhaust and a couple of other bits,” Steven says, fooling precisely no one, “but six months later I found myself running a full Stage 3 spec, big-brake kit, the works.”

Funny how that happens, isn’t it? And the peak power figure of 320.4bhp was proven on the dyno by James at BD Performance in South Wales, a sterling coalescence of Steven’s hard and tireless efforts.

The perky EcoBoost is now bolstered by the much-celebrated X47R turbo, along with an R-Sport Stage 3 intercooler, VUDU big boost pipe kit, ITG induction, and big-bore Milltek decat exhaust system. Impressively, all of this extra power is handled with aplomb by the standard diff and clutch (remarkable really, when you consider that it’s as near-as-dammit an 80 per cent power increase), although Steven has taken the precaution of fitting a Collins rear gearbox mount.

Naturally, you wouldn’t reasonably expect the factory-standard brakes to cope with such a massive increase in day-to-day thrust, so this is one area to which Steven has paid particular attention; at the business end we find a brawny K-Sport six-pot upgrade with meaty 304mm discs, while the rears have been upgraded to ST170 carriers to allow the fitment of larger 280mm discs.

Further chassis enhancements arrived in the form of Summit front and rear strut braces, and since our shoot the Redline springs have been ousted in favour of pukka BC Racing coilovers.

Special mention has to go to the wheel choice, as the Pumaspeed TrackLite is such an outstanding option for this platform, it’s a wonder that everyone doesn’t run them – they fill the arches neatly with no need for spacers, they’re pleasingly lightweight, they allow plenty of clearance for big brakes, and they’re almost absurdly affordable. Look pretty spectacular too, don’t they?

This project is particularly close to Steven’s heart as he’s crafted so much of it with his own two hands. He explains, “I carried out the majority of the work myself, apart OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

13

F I E S TA S T

DRIVER SPEC

STEVEN HOWELLS AGE 29 JOB Youth worker FIRST FORD Mk1 Ford Focus BEST MODIFICATION “The turbo, and the exhaust” FAVOURITE FORD SHOW OR EVENT? “Hard one – it’s between Ford Fair and Rally Day” LESSONS LEARNT FROM THIS PROJECT? “None, and I’d do it all again” WHAT’S NEXT “Plan is to buy a Mk2 Focus RS and use this Fiesta as a track car”

Blue Oval is buzzing

Steven makes a beeline for the black-and-yellow theme

from fitting the turbo, doing the remap, and installing the front brakes - which was done by BD Performance.”

The commitment to quality is palpable throughout, with Steven choosing proven upgrades that complement one another in the pursuit of performance. With this in mind, he’s focused more on the mechanicals than the aesthetics, although that’s not to say he hasn’t paid attention to the details.

The evidence is right here that the Mk7 is such a cohesive piece of design, it takes ȭѲ FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

just a few choice upgrades to turn it into a proper head-turner: Steven’s opted for the front, side and rear splitter kits from Triple R Composites, along with Zunsport grilles and Maxton Design rear diffuser and spoiler lip.

These go hand-in-hand with the WRC bonnet vents and custom headlights (complete with sequential indicators) to create a really rather striking profile.

Steven says, “It gets a lot of attention at shows. Bada at BMC Auto Perfection keeps the paintwork in top-notch condition,

following a three-stage paint correction back in August 2019, and has kept it topped up since – so I would like to say a huge thanks to Bada for keeping the paint perfect; he always goes the extra mile when detailing my car.”

It really is the ideal fusion of form and function. Subtle but aggressive looks with a show-winning finish, housing the sort of improbable firepower that keeps a smile SODVWHUHG DFURVV 6WHYHQȇV IDFH RQ D GDLO\ EDVLV b It’s a true driver’s car – built for fun and used just as Ford intended.

NEWS See what’s going down in the world of fast Fords...

LOSS OF A LEGEND P

rolific writer and Fast Ford’s longest-running contributor Graham Robson has sadly passed away. He had a close relationship with Ford at Boreham and its drivers for decades and remained an expert on the marque right up until his death.

When it comes to the Blue Oval, Graham Robson had been there, done that and then sat down at a typewriter and written about it.

Indeed, scan the Ford books on your shelves, and the chances are high that Graham had written the majority of them.

The links with Ford’s motorsport department really kicked off in 1965, when Graham was working for Autocar and Ford suggested that he was co-driver for Roger Clark on the Welsh international rally in a Lotus Cortina. They won.

Through the 1970s and Eighties the relationship continued, with Graham being actively involved in the birth of the RS200, before setting up the Securicor Sierra Rally Challenge in 1986 (and using an XR4x4 as a chase car), followed by running various RS Motorsport dealer evenings.

It was around this time that his prolific book- writing career really took off and he began writing for car magazines, including contributing to Fast Ford.

Graham was still writing right up until his passing, and commentating at events (he was the commentator at Ford Fair for many years) here in the UK and in the USA, and until recently travelled up to Ford once a week.

He will be missed by the Ford community, but his passion for the Blue Oval lives on in the many books, features and comments he wrote over the years.

PROTOTYPE-STYLE FORD GT

A

s a tribute to the legendary Ford GT that beat Ferrari and went on to dominate Le Mans for the latter half of the 1960s, Ford is introducing the 2022 Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition. The limitededition version is inspired by the GT

16 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

prototype that debuted at the New York International Auto Show on 3 April 1964 and wears Wimbledon White paint with Antimatter Blue graphics, including an over-the-roof triple racing stripe. Of course, technology has come a long way since the 1960s, and just as the original GT was

cutting-edge in its day, the new 2022 model boasts the latest upgrades today – but they have been stylized to fit with the prototype theme; things like the carbon fibre wheels are unashamedly 21st century, but have been designed to fit the 1964 styling perfectly. The price? Don’t ask...

WH AT ' S N E W

VELOCIRAPTOR 400 BRONCO

A

merican tuning house Hennessey (famed for its work with building some of the fastest Fords on the planet) has turned its attention to the new Bronco model that is proving so popular in the USA. The all-new Hennessey VelociRaptor 400 Bronco boasts 405bhp at 5700rpm and 503lb.ft torque at 3900rpm as a result of comprehensive reworking; the team’s engineers fit new intake and exhaust

systems to the 2.7-litre twin-turbocharged V6 powerplant, as well as recalibrating the engine to maximize power. The VelociRaptor package adds 75bhp to the range-topping Bronco Wildtrak and increases torque by 88lb.ft, enabling the 4x4 to sprint from 0-to-60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. In addition, owners can customise the styling, adding goodies such as 35in off-road tyres. Prices are typically around $80,000.

John Hennessey knows a thing or two about building a fast Ford

FAST FEUD

If you’ve been on our Facebook page recently (www.facebook.com/FastFordmag) you will have seen the Fast Feud series of polls we’re running, sponsored by our friends at Power Maxed. Head to our Facebook page to take part in the latest poll. We’re into the quarter-finals now, and the latest results are in…

QUARTER FINAL 1:

SAPPHIRE COSWORTH 2WD VS SIERRA RS COSWORTH Winner: Sierra RS Cosworth (62%) QUARTER FINAL 2:

S1 RS TURBO VS S2 RS TURBO Winner: S1 RS Turbo (58%)

TRAX 2021

T

RAX, Britain’s biggest performance car show, is back at Silverstone circuit for 2021.

This ultimate performance car event will feature live track action on the National circuit and give you the opportunity to unleash your inner racing driver with public track time.

Along with all-day action on the track and some show-stopping static displays, there will be a dedicated Retail Village packed with car-related parts, accessories, clothing and much more.

The Drift Kings return to TRAX 2021 too, promising to be bigger, smokier and louder than ever before.

As an event that caters for all walks of modified-car life, TRAX will also host magazine display stands from all of the UK’s big-hitting modified car magazines. Of course, Fast Ford will be there, and we will be joined by Performance VW, Performance BMW, Performance MINI, VWT, and Fast Car Magazine.

For more information or to book tickets for TRAX, head to www.fastcar.co.uk/traxsilverstone OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

17

WH AT ' S N E W BARR ACUDA R ACING WHEELS

ULTRALIGHT PROJECT 2.0 ALLOYS FOR MUSTANG

€549 (£467) per wheel

*image for illustration purposes only

BC R ACING

MK4 FOCUS RM COILOVERS

£1049

We’ve got a feeling that Mk4 Focus tuning is going to really take off this year – especially with upgrades like BC Racing’s new RM-MA Series coilover kit offering genuine performance improvements without compromising on everyday usability or reliability. BC Racing says the RM-MA is the kit it recommends for the best balance of performance and comfort, combining the ideal compromise of spring rate, ride height, top mount design and damping rates to suit the vast majority of applications. Full details of the kit can be found on the BC Racing website. www.bc-racing.co.uk

FORD STUFF The latest gear on the Blue Oval scene

MOUNTUNE

MOUNTUNE

m365 power upgrade, m365 software - £689, sports cat/ downpipe - £575, sports GPF - £525 Mountune has been working hard on upgrades for the Mk4 Focus ST in recent weeks, and just launched the latest software, which gives the latest fast Focus RS-rivalling levels of power. The aptly named m365 software delivers an impressive 365PS (360bhp) and 560Nm (413lb.ft), and has undergone all the stringent testing over tens of thousands of miles that we’ve come to expect from Mountune products. The software is flashed using the latest hassle-free SMARTflash technology (allowing you to install the software via a smart phone) and is switchable between four modes: m365, m330, stock, and anti-theft.

For the full performance of the m365 software, Mountune says the restrictive stock exhaust system needs careful attention, which is why the company has also developed a new downpipe with sports cat, and a new sports GPF too. With both of these installed, the bottleneck within the stock exhaust system is significantly improved and allows the software to work its magic to deliver the full performance potential of the m365 upgrade. For full details head to the website. www.mountunestore.com

ȭ FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

German tuning specialist Cardiologie Tuning has recently fitted a set of Barracuda Racing Wheels’s new Project 2.0 alloys to a Mustang GT to showcase how the lightweight rim really suits the fast Ford.

The Project 2.0 alloys might be big – 21in diameter, 9in wide at the front and a massive 10.5in wide at the rear! – but thanks to their clever flow-forming construction they are incredibly light without compromising on strength. The concave styling suits the flared hips of the Mustang perfectly, especially when wrapped in 255/30 and 285/30 tyres and lowered on coilovers. For more info, head to the website. www.barracuda-europe.de

WH AT ' S N E W

SHIFT CAR CARE

WEBCON

£16.99

£687.06

Shift’s new Waterless Wash is an advanced formula, infused with polymer technology that Shift says ensures cleaning paintwork, vinyl, glass, trim and wheels is completely safe and scratch-free. It’s a simple spray-on and wipe-off application and, as well as cleansing surfaces it also adds a quartz-based ceramic coating to stop water and road grime from sticking. Shift says an average car wash uses between 75 and 200 litres of fresh water per vehicle, so this new Waterless Wash is kinder to the environment, but we think it will prove more popular with Ford fans as a fantastic product to use when prepping cars at shows; quick, easy and convenient. For more details and other products, head to the website. www.shiftcarcare.com

Webcon is delighted to announce the relaunch of the Weber twin-choke conversion kit for the 1.6-litre CVH engine, as found in cars like the Fiesta XR2 and Escort XR3. With many of the original carburettors approaching the end of their useful lives, a Weber 32/34 DMTL manual-choke carburettor conversion will breathe new life into these fast Ford icons.

The kit includes a new Webcon manifold, a Weber 32/34 DMTL carburettor (jetted to suit the 1.6-litre CVH), a new air filter and an OEM airbox adaptor, as well as a new choke cable.

For further details contact Webcon. www.webcon.co.uk

WATERLESS WASH

TWIN-CHOKE CONVERSION FOR 1.6 CVH

GAZ

BURTON POWER

FORD COSWORTH CLUTCH KITS

From £145

In keeping with its policy of sourcing parts for fast Fords that are no longer available from the original manufacturers, Burton Power now has standard replacement clutches for two-wheeldrive and four-wheel-drive versions of the Ford Sierra/Sapphire and Escort Cosworth. Order as part number 624163100 for 2WD applications (£145) and as part number 624163200 for the 4x4 version (£149.95). Both kits include a clutch cover plate, organic friction plate, and new release bearing. For further details contact Burton Power. www.burtonpower.com

SAPPHIRE/ESCORT COSWORTH 4X4 COILOVERS

£1229.16

GAZ Shocks is restocking its Gold coilover kit for Sapphire and Escort Cosworth 4x4 models. Ride height is adjustable through 60mm of adjustment, the damper units are plated with black zinc and fitted with anodised adjusters for long life, and the height adjusters have a coarse acme-form thread for ease of adjustment and to ensure long service life.

Damper rates are variable by means of an adjuster knob on the damper body, and the Gold range features a gas cell in the reservoir filled with a high viscosity index multi-grade oil to prevent cavitation and reduce fade under racing and track-day conditions.

All units are individually tested before leaving the factory and are covered by a two-year warranty. For more details head to the website. www.gazshocks.co.uk

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CLUB PROFILE

TANGERINE SCREAM ST OWNERS’ CLUB

We catch up with one of the most colourful owners’ groups in the fast Ford scene When was the club founded?

The club was started five years ago; it officially started on 6 September 2016. Why did we start it? Well, that’s an interesting one... Basically, when we first found our ST, we had never really seen any cars this colour before and it is such a beautiful colour for a car that we immediately went searching on the internet and social media to find photos of others. That’s when we discovered that a club for cars in this colour didn’t exist, so we decided to create one. We had no idea it would prove as popular as it has.

How many active members does the club currently have?

Currently we have 907 active members, but as everyone is chatting and helping each other, the numbers are growing each day.

We hope to reach 1000 members very soon.

Which models does the club cater for?

We only cover the Mk3/Mk3.5 Tangerine Scream Focus ST. What does the club offer to new members?

As a new member you will be welcomed into the group. We do have a few house rules to follow, but so do most groups these days, and it’s just to make sure the club is a great place for all its members.

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We are very family-friendly, and as a new member you will benefit from the various discounts available, plus the wealth of knowledge from other members within the club. We offer insurance discounts with Greenflag and Adrian Flux, and we have a group discount with SK Graphics too. And the icing on the cake is that we can offer an amazing discount with our close friends at BSWC Auto Security Car Alarm UK; Mike and Mick offer an amazing service and will travel all over the UK for our members.

Can you describe a typical club member?

The typical club member is always happy helping others, and we are all friendly, chatty and willing to help others in the club. The members are the heart and soul of the club.

What shows and events does the club usually attend?

The shows that we go to have been on hold due to Covid, but we have been to our Blackpool meet, and Ford Fair is our main show of the year. We have also been to Crail for a show, and we are hoping to expand our events calendar in future years.

even better than that is the great advice from our knowledgeable members who are always keen to help with any problems or car-related issues anyone has.

But I would say the best thing is that we are a family-orientated club, and we do loads of fun stuff such as raffles and monthly cover comps – above all else, it’s just fun to be a part of the group.

Where do you see the club in five years’ time?

Hopefully in five years we’ll be even bigger and better. It’s been amazing to see the club grow over the last five years, and fingers crossed it will continue to thrive in future years too.

VITAL INFO NAME Tangerine Scream ST Owners’ Club WEBSITE www.fordclubgb.co.uk FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ groups/1669357946678090 INSTAGRAM @TSSTOC EMAIL Tsstoc18@yahoo.com

What’s the best thing about being a member of the club?

As a member you will benefit from all the discount schemes we offer, but perhaps

MODELS COVERED Mk3/Mk3.5 Tangerine Scream Focus ST COST TO JOIN Free

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Subtle it ain’t. But this car’s not built for standing still

DRIVEN

HENDY PERFORMANCE FOCUS RS

Jamie gets behind the wheel of Hendy Performance’s 500bhp-plus Mk3 Focus RS, the eye-catching #HP500 development car Words JAMIE Photos JASON DODD

A

s a Mk3 Focus RS owner, I spend a lot of time behind the wheel of the most recent Rallye Sport model. In fact, it was my own Focus RS that I took to Hendy Performance HQ to test the team’s #HP500 demo car.

Hendy’s #HP500 isn’t exactly a newcomer to the fast Ford scene, and avid Mk3 fans have no doubt already seen videos on the internet of YouTubers and other RS enthusiasts giving their feedback on the big-turbo bruiser.

But, until now it’s always been something of a ‘work in progress’ rather than ‘finished 22 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

product’. And today we’re lucky enough to be driving the eye-catching development car after its most recent round of updates, which the guys at Hendy claim have totally transformed the RS from its previous setup.

The project began a couple of years ago, when Hendy’s lads bagged themselves a fully-loaded Nitrous Blue Mk3 Focus RS to use as a development vehicle to showcase the performance upgrades on offer. As Mountune dealers, the team quickly fitted a raft of performance upgrades from their friends in Essex. These included fully forged

QUICK SPEC

Mk3 Focus RS, Mountune/Mahle pistons and Carrillo conrods, BorgWarner EFR-7163 turbo, Piper Stage 2 fast-road camshafts and valve springs, ARP head studs, Mountune V3 exhaust with sports cat, Mountune intercooler, Mountune intake kit, Mountune hard pipe kit, balance shaft delete, baffled sump plate, Xtreme DI fuel pump, ported and polished cylinder head, 4-bar MAP sensor, Motorsport Developments MSD500 software (multimaps), Quaife ATB, Eibach lowering springs, custom #HP500 wrap

engine internals, BorgWarner EFR-7163 turbo, Piper Stage 2 cams and springs, ARP head studs, balance shaft delete, baffled sump, Mountune V3 exhaust with sports cat, Mountune intercooler, Mountune intake kit, and an Xtreme DI fuel pump.

In addition, the Hendy team also added a Quaife ATB, fitted Eibach springs, had the cylinder worked on by Ian Howell at Area Six Motorsport, and worked closely with Motorsport Developments to develop a set of multimaps purely for this car – the first is 445bhp/405lb.ft, slot two is 475bhp/480lb. ft, while slot three serves up the full-fat 520bhp/550lb.ft – hence the #HP500 tags.

But just as the project began, the world was struck by the Coronavirus pandemic, which limited travelling from Southampton to Blackpool, so the first stages of software were written according to data log files sent back and forth between Hendy and MSD. Kevin, Hendy Performance’s technical supervisor, describes the process: “The first file was developed using info MSD already had from similarly spec’d cars on their dyno, but we carried out various data logging and Stu at MSD would make tweaks to improve things. For example, one revision saw us

#HP500 brings Jamie’s cure for constipation

Stock stoppers cope fine with 520bhp

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Jamie searches for somewhere secret to swap wraps with his own Mk3 RS

install one of MSD’s new 4-bar MAP sensors, and there have been four or five updates to the software since then too.”

Kevin goes on to explain that the car hasn’t yet been fully finished as he tosses me the keys to the RS: “Now, with nearly 20,000 miles under its belt (thanks in part to Covid-delays) we’ve been able to finalise the settings and all that remains to do is the final setup on MSD’s dyno when we can get up to Blackpool – it’s a totally different beast to drive now.”

Even though I take the time to sample all the power slots, you’ll not be surprised to learn that I spend most of my time in the fullpower 520bhp setting.

Despite this, as I make my way out of Hendy’s HQ and head for some open roads, I have to confess its road manners when sitting in traffic and cruising along the motorway at steady speeds are the same as with any other Mk3 Focus RS I’ve driven; certainly, it has the same factory-feel that I admire about my own car. The wrap does get some looks though.

Before long, I turn off the M27 and start hunting out some good roads in the New Forest National Park...

My goodness! This car comes alive when you allow it to stretch its legs.

I’d read some of the reviews and watched some of the videos on the #HP500 before 24 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

I got chance to drive it, and one common thread was the increased amount of turbo lag. A trade-off for a bigger turbo is traditionally always going to be some increase in response time, but I must admit I haven’t really noticed it. I don’t know why; perhaps my driving style is better suited to the car? Or the fact that I own an RS myself means I’m more accustomed to the power delivery? Or, more likely, the recent updates have made significant improvements to the car since those reviews were made.

If anything, I think the bigger turbo and slight increase in lag actually helps this car; it means the power is introduced in a more linear fashion, and that makes it more manageable… Because when the boost kicks in, all hell breaks loose!

You really wouldn’t want 550lb.ft of torque kicking in at 2000rpm (where the standard car makes its peak 350lb.ft) because it would just be a wheel-spinning monster.

Instead, with full boost not coming until you’re above 3000rpm, you’re already moving, and traction is generally less of an issue before all of that boost is unleashed.

But that’s not to say it won’t still light the tyres up if you aren’t on top of your game – on slippery, narrow, stone-covered roads like these you need to have your wits about you

if you want to poke this particular RS with a stick; it wants to poke you back...

And for me that’s one of the best things about it. The reason we love fast Fords over other marques is because they are full of character. Yes, there are plenty of fast (faster, in many cases) German and Japanese machines available, but they can tend to feel a little soulless in comparison. Fast Fords are supposed to excite and make you feel alive, and boy does the #HP500 do that in spades.

I carry on enjoying the B-road blasts until I run out of fuel. I just don’t want to give it back.

The downside, as is so often the case, is that the hardware requirements needed to enjoy all this extra power – particularly the forged engine internals – adds significantly to the cost of the upgrade. From a bone-stock car to full-fat #HP500-spec you’re looking at a minimum of £10,000.

But those upgrades don’t all have to be done at once, so speaking of which, anyone know where I can get me a deal on some RS forged rods and pistons…?

NEXT TIME

MOUNTUNE’S PUMA ST M260

Jamie gets his first drive of the mountuneenhanced Puma ST

For those who think a little lower

Legendary Air Lift Performance Air Suspension and state-of-the-art Performance 3 control, now with FLO Airride billet air tanks.

Visit: airliftperformance.com to build your perfect system Mustang (S550) | Front Kit #78521 | Rear Kit #78621 | FLO Airride Billet Tank #15224

FOCUS RS

LEAKY’S You can turn any Focus RS into a show car, but it’s still a road-racer at heart. Leaky’s punchy Mk2 is a clever mix of brutal power and unique style...

Words DANIEL BEVIS / Photos RICHARD SHELDRICK

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he sweat beads on the brow as the pulse quickens.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock. The sound of inevitability, those minuscule slivers of time edging by as you wait for the flag to drop.

Tick. You’re pushing against yourself; the best times you’ve set, the highest speed, the latest braking, the most extreme lateral G. Tock. Everything you’ve achieved in building the car, hurtling towards this one make-or-break dash for the chequered flag.

Tick. You’ve built it well, with quality parts and a clear strategy; everything that happens now is down to your own fallibility.

Tock. Race time. Drop the clutch, excite the hydrocarbons, agitate the rubber, get the jump on your opponents. These coming minutes are all that matter. Time spirals into a sole purpose: the race against your opponents, yourself, the track, the limits of the car. Hours of work distilled into one snapshot moment. That’s the thrill of motorsport.

The crowning achievement of a well-modded road car is to incorporate this sort of trackoriented excitement in a beautifully crafted package; a car that pulls together some unique and showstopping alterations to get Ѱ FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

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FOCUS RS

“The car hasn’t wanted for anything, it’s always had the best whenever needed... It’s a real headturner – it’s mainly used for shows and minimeets, and never fails to put a smile on my face” everybody staring when you pull up at the traffic lights. With all eyes on your magnificent creation, you sit gripping the wheel, waiting for the lights to change with the thrill of the start line. It’s a race car for the road, and it’s ready to scoop trophies on the showground too.

To achieve this sort of road-and-race effect, the Mk2 Focus RS is a very strong base to start with. Even in factory form it’s a pretty bloody formidable proposition, with a platform extremely receptive to tuning and modding. There are few stock examples out there, because owners fall in love with them and can’t stop themselves from upgrading things. But it’s fair to say that you probably haven’t seen an RS quite like this…

But before we dig into the mods, let’s get the measure of the man behind the wheel. Lee Ablewhite is the name, although everyone calls him Leaky.

He explains, “I’ve always been a petrolhead, starting from the moment I got my Nova at the age of 18. I loved that car, and started modding way back then. The fun really began when I bought an R33 Nissan Skyline, which Ѱ FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

ended up with 500bhp. I ultimately ended up selling that for family reasons, at which point I bought a Mondeo ST220, and enjoyed modifying that too.”

A man of eclectic tastes, then, although it’s clear the Blue Oval is a growing influence.

It’s quite a step up from an ST220 to an RS though, so how did that come about?

Leaky says, “Well, from the moment I’d first seen a Mk2 RS I knew I had to have one someday. They’re just so aggressive-looking.

And that five-pot sound…”

It was always written in the stars, and when the right candidate presented itself in the classifieds, Leaky made the trip over to Wales to make the dream a reality. A 2010 model, it boasted a pleasingly low mileage and had always been well looked after; it also already had the shouty KMS Thunderstorm exhaust system fitted, so he could hit the ground running with upgrades.

Being a key figure in the East of England Fords club (EOEF), Leaky had no end of advice and titbits to feed off, so it was inevitable that he’d be rolling up his sleeves and getting stuck in. And with the exterior treatment of this

Here’s what’s known as a Leaky knob

TECH SPEC

Blindingly shiny

FOCUS RS ENGINE 2522cc five-cylinder Duratec turbo, Collins Performance CP400 package, KMS Thunderstorm exhaust system with 3.5in downpipe, Auto Specialists carbon cold air induction system, Forge recirc valve, Stage 3 Airtec intercooler, Auto Specialists inlet plenum, Airtec crossover pipe, Airtec expansion tank, Auto Specialists bonnet mirrors, Airtec ECU holder, chrome fusebox cover, chrome battery cover POWER 400bhp (owner’s estimate) TRANSMISSION Focus RS M66 six-speed gearbox with factory-fit Quaife ATB diff SUSPENSION Air Lift Performance air suspension with 3P management, Summit front and rear strut braces BRAKES Front: KMS eight-pot callipers with 356mm discs; Rear: original callipers with drilled and grooved discs, performance pads WHEELS & TYRES 20x9in Riviera RV177 wheels in gloss black, 5x108 PCD, ET40 offset, with Goodyear Eagle F1 235/35/20 tyres EXTERIOR Focus RS wrapped in matt grey

by Uncle Luke’s, custom rear window louvre, underglow lights, M-Sport mud flaps, smoked tail lights, smoked fog lights, Autobeam LED upgrades all round, WRC vents (fitted and supplied by Nick Wiley), Maxton Design splitter kit INTERIOR Factory Focus RS, Pioneer touchscreen head unit and speakers

Leaky’s blinder –looking angry enough to stab you in the face

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FOCUS RS

car, he really has taken his own path.

You’ll notice, of course, that it’s parked a lot more adjacently to terra firma than your average RS, and that’s thanks to the fitment of a full Air Lift Suspension system with 3P management. The tasteful matt grey wrap was lovingly applied by the artisans at Uncle Luke’s Sticker Shop, and the upgrades are an exercise in how to do a Mk2: splitters from Maxton Design, a set of functional WRC vents, smoked lights with LEDs all around, and perhaps the coolest part of all, a one-off set of rear window louvres. Not something you see every day, is it?

With a KMS eight-pot brake conversion sitting behind those 20in Riviera rims, along with Summit front and rear strut braces to keep things pleasingly stiff, it’s clear that Leaky’s keen and willing to exploit the power.

But we’re not talking stock power levels.

The revered Collins Performance CP400 package has been deployed; something that comprises upgraded mapping, injectors, induction, intercooler and exhaust to take things up to 400bhp.

The car was already running the KMS exhaust, of course, with its 3.5in downpipe, and it’s now joined by an Auto Specialists carbon CAIS induction setup, a Forge recirc valve, a beefy Stage 3 Airtec intercooler, and an Auto Specialists inlet plenum. It all adds up to a package built for endless fun and highoctane thrills, keeping Leaky’s palms sweaty as the frisky Focus thrusts him towards the horizon at any given opportunity.

He says, “The build has been a bumpy ride, really, not all smooth sailing. Aside from the map and the wrap, all of the mods were done

in a friend’s garage with the help of mates from EOEF. Fitting the air-ride was probably the most testing part of it – I did it on my own in my mate’s garage while on lockdown, and there were times when I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew.”

It all came good in the end, though, and Leaky can enjoy the satisfaction of knowing there are bits of his knuckle skin and blood smears hidden under the surface. It’s not just a unique RS, but it’s properly his own – all his ideas, with dirt under his own fingernails.

He adds, “Most of the parts used were Cheeky eight-pots; sneaky 20s

sourced from Auto Specialists. The car hasn’t wanted for anything, it’s always had the best whenever needed. And yes, it’s a real head-turner – it’s mainly used for shows and mini-meets, and never fails to put a smile on my face.”

Quite right – because when he’s on the way to those shows, Leaky can really get in the zone: knuckles whitening as he grips the wheel, moisture beading on his brow, waiting for the signal to unleash hell.

It’s a show car, sure, but the race car hiding inside isn’t all that good at hiding.

DRIVER SPEC

LEE ABLEWHITE (AKA LEAKY) AGE 36 JOB Plumber INSTAGRAM @leaky_leeroy FIRST FORD Mk2 Fiesta 1.1 Popular BEST MODIFICATION One-off rear window louvre FAVOURITE FORD SHOW OR EVENT? Ford Power Live TRACK DAY OR SHOW & SHINE? Show-and-shine with EOEF LESSONS LEARNT FROM THIS PROJECT? “Never lean in and push the start button without checking if it’s in gear. Otherwise, it pushes you out of the way, flattens your wheelie bin, and crashes into your garage – doing a burnout with nobody in it. Expensive lesson...”

WHAT’S NEXT “I have Monkey Wrench working on some bespoke headlights” THANKS “I would love to thank RS Photography for the work he put into getting this car featured. And also Uncle Luke’s Sticker Shop for the wrap, Luke Manning at iValet UK for keeping her clean to the highest standards, East of England Fords (EOEF) for helping with the build, and Mickey Holder for the constant use of his garage and tools”

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T N A W E E CA

S AND MODELS CONSIDERE

Hendy Performance Eastleigh Unit 5, M3 Trade Park, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9YA 023 8098 6607

Hendy Performance Poole West Quay Road Poole, Dorset BH15 1JF 01202 070 930

Hendy Performance Exeter Alphin Brook Rd Marsh Barton, Exeter Devon EX2 8RG 01392 249 848

S A P PH I R E C O S WO R T H

What was your first car? We bet it wasn’t a flame-spitting, tyre-shredding, 600bhp-plus Sapphire Cosworth.

For Tommi Huttunen it was…

Words JAMIE / Photos JAPE TIITENEN

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C

ast your mind back to when you were 17 years old (we know that’s a lot more rewinding to do for some readers than others...), and remember when you were deciding on what your first car should be.

Older readers might recite things like 1.1-litre Mk1 Escorts, those in their 30s might have been looking at base-model Mk3 Fiestas and Mk4 Escorts, while younger readers have

a much more appealing choice of sportylooking, turbocharged 1.0-litre Fiestas and the like. But not many people would have bought, rebuilt, and then tuned a rear-wheel-drive Sapphire Cosworth to use as their first ever car. Tommi Huttunen is not most people…

Tommi explains, “As I approached driving age [18 in his native Finland], I started looking at options for my first car. It never occurred to me to take an old Sierra as my first car.

“But in December 2014 one of my classmates said that he had heard about a genuine Sapphire Cosworth just sat in the parking lot of an old, terraced house.”

Intrigued, Tommi went straight round for a closer look. Upon further investigation he discovered the car had been off the road since the summer of 2013 and it was clear it hadn’t been driven in a while. But with the Finnish equivalent of an MOT certificate

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S A PP H I R E C O S WO R T H

Alien spaceship surreptitiously replaced the Saph’s turbo

TECH SPEC

SAPPHIRE COSWORTH ENGINE 1993cc Cosworth YB, 200 block, longstudded, Coopers rings, ACL bearings, forged pistons, forged conrods, under-piston oil spray jets, big-wing sump, high-pressure oil pump, Cat Cams camshafts, double springs, Piper vernier pulleys, carbon fibre (prototype) inlet plenum, Jenvey throttle body, Bosch 2000cc injectors, Fuelab adjustable fuel pressure regulator, BorgWarner EFR 8374 turbo, custom exhaust manifold with 4in downpipe, stand-alone engine management system, coil-on-plug upgrade, custom oil breather system, Thrust intercooler, Airtec radiator POWER 600bhp and 640Nm (472lb.ft) TRANSMISSION Sapphire Cosworth BorgWarner T5 gearbox, lightweight steel flywheel, four-paddle clutch, Gripper plated-type limited-slip differential SUSPENSION Seam-welded chassis, reinforced strut towers, 28mm front and 18mm anti-roll bars, Gaz Gold coilovers BRAKES Front: 328mm discs with four-pot Brembo callipers and Ferodo D2500 pads; rear: 300mm discs with two-pot Brembo callipers and Ferodo D2500 pads, plus original 2WD Cosworth callipers with handbrake function WHEELS & TYRES 8x17in Compomotive TH alloys in ET25 offset, with Hankook 215/40x17 (front) and 235/35x17 (rear) tyres EXTERIOR Sapphire Cosworth 2WD, LHD, body soundproofed with STP Black Gold bitumen mat, 4x4 vented bonnet with carbon vents and AeroCatches, carbon mirrors caps, fibreglass front bumper with rubber splitter and quick locks INTERIOR Recaro leather interior, flocked dashboard, roof and interior trim panels, black carpets, Pioneer head unit, Ground Zero speakers and 8in sub in boot

34 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

expiring only 18 months-or-so earlier, Tommi figured ‘how bad can it be?’ and inquired if it was for sale.

It was, and the price was good, so the cogs started whirring in Tommi’s head. But before he could seal the deal he had the difficult task of convincing his family that a Sapphire Cosworth was the perfect first car. Amazingly, he somehow managed to win that argument, and after a quick test drive (sliding sideways in the snow), the Cossie was loaded onto the back of a trailer and heading to Tommi’s garage.

“We had to trailer it as there were a couple of oil leaks,” remembers Tommi, “but looking at the last test certificate there was nothing to note other than a couple of small rust bubbles just starting.”

With the Cossie back in the warm and dry, Tommi was able to get a closer look at what was destined to become his first car. He freed off the brakes, checked the fluids, and went off for a quick drive.

He says, “The start seemed promising, but when the turbo hit 1-bar of boost the breather emptied all of the engine’s oil out onto the floor.” The YB motor was clearly not in good health. Gutted, Tommi parked the Cossie and left it for a few months while he calmed down.

But as any Cossie owner will testify, as much as they test your patience you can never leave them alone. A few weeks later,

“The start seemed promising, but when the turbo hit 1-bar of boost the breather emptied all of the engine’s oil out onto the floor...” with motivation creeping back, Tommi found himself working on the Saph again. But all was not well.

After lifting the carpet he unearthed several cracks in the floor and chassis rails, and the whole underside was full of rust holes. The car was duly stripped completely, sandblasted, repaired (Tommi reckons at least 100 hours’ welding was needed to get everything structurally sound again), before some substantial rust-proofing was applied to prevent anything happening in the future.

Then the shell was sent off for a fresh respray.

While the car was in the paint shop, the fabled YB engine was dismantled and readied for a full rebuild. And have you ever known a YB to be rebuilt with less power than it had previously? Of course not. The story follows

Prototype carbon inlet plenum: place your orders now..

a similar path here, only Tommi jumped a few steps and went straight for a massive BorgWarner EFR 8374 turbo as the key ingredient in this rebuild.

The rest of the car returned from the paint shop in September 2015 – taking a little longer than the original plan of a quick refresh – and during the summer of 2016 Tommi reassembled everything and decided to get the car driveable. Other upgrades to the suspension, bigger brakes , and a few more tweaks here and there also all found their way onto the car.

With conditions too bad to drive over the following winter months, Tommi had to wait until February 2017 before he could finally get out on the road for the first test.

He recalls, “That test also started well and I even started to have thoughts about getting it booked in for the katsastus [Finnish MOT].

But before the time came to swap the winter tyres for summer ones (when I wanted to book the test), I had broken the engine again.

All I could do was remove it, disassemble it, and see what had gone wrong.”

Tommi spent the next couple of years buying, selling and accumulating parts; a new crank and block was sourced, and all the old standard parts that were no longer used were sold. During this time, Tommi made various tweaks too; things like smoothing the engine bay, swapping the cloth Recaro interior for full Raven leather and then flocking the dash in black to match.

Tommi eases out of his driveway for a gentle run to work

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S A PP H I R E C O S WO R T H

DRIVER SPEC

TOMMI HUTTUNEN AGE 24 JOB Network installer FIRST FORD This one

Wrong-hand drive but pure Cossie cabin

But progress was slow and sporadic; there was no plan and no end goal. “That’s when I decided to set a deadline,” says Tommi.

“There was an American car show that I booked the car in for, and I said the car would need to be driving by then.”

With the show a few weeks away and the workload mounting up, Tommi got stuck into finishing the project. It was a slog and included lots of late nights and early starts, but at 6pm the night before the show, the car was looking good and ready to be fired up.

Sadly, Tommi couldn’t bring the freshlybuilt YB to life before it was time to load the car into the trailer and head for Helsinki.

36 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

Light ‘em up, Tommi!

Clearly he was disappointed, but the positive comments the young Cossie fan received from the show fuelled his inspiration, and after a week on display Tommi was soon looking forward to getting the Sapphire back home where he could get to work – without the pressure of a looming deadline – on getting the YB started.

With a methodically approach the new powerplant soon burst into life. “Yes, it was a great feeling,” smiles Tommi. A few tweaks ensured the Cossie was running well enough to be taken to the dyno. The first visit highlighted a few issues that needed ironing out, but with those sorted the return

THANKS “The biggest thanks go to my parents, because they found space for building a car at home, Pete for help and motivation, Kitee Motor Machine Shop, TT-Speed, Fin-Turbo, ‘Carbon Fairy’ Jarno Kauppila for all the carbon fibre bits, Olli, Arttu, Niko, Jani, Väinö, Jere, Atte, Kalle, Tommi, Tuomas, Samu, Husband, Antti and Powertech, Juho, Jylppy, Lida for help with understanding and keeping the faith, and for everyone else who was involved – either more or less by force or voluntarily”

visit went very well indeed; the new engine produced an impressive 600bhp and 472lb.ft, at a relatively low boost setting of 1.5-bar.

Needless to say, after waiting so long to get out on the road in his Cossie, Tommi enjoyed the rest of summer: “I think I covered about 5000km, and went through a lot of rear tyres.”

So after taking so long to get on the road, surely Tommi isn’t going to mess with it now?

Of course he is – it’s a Cossie and we can’t leave them alone; he’s already got his eyes on a stronger rear diff and winding up the boost.

He may have had to hang on until his 20s to get rolling in his epic Cossie, but for Tommi it’s all been worth the wait.

PERFOR

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M K1 F O C U S R S

SWEET SPOT

Fusing hardcore track-day performance with show-car quality, Jazmin Harrington’s formidable Focus RS really hits the spot Words JAMIE / Photos JASON DODD

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ike so many of us Blue Oval enthusiasts, Jazmin Harrington can trace her love for all things Ford back to her parents; in this case a youth spent (mostly sideways) as a passenger in her dad’s Sapphire Cosworth.

With such smoky, smile-inducing memories etched into her head, it was only natural that Jaz would turn to the good Ford when she turned 17 and was able to source a car of her own.

She remembers, “My first car was Ka – a far cry from Dad’s Cossie, but my passion for Ford started when I was young, so I was always going to have a Ford.”

Over the years, cars have come and gone, but that fondness for a Blue Oval never went. If anything, it only grew stronger. And before long, the time was right to find a fast Ford that Jaz could use to really express her passion for the brand.

But what would fit the bill? A Sapphire Cossie

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

ѱѴ

M K1 F O C U S R S

TECH SPEC

MK1 FOCUS RS

K&N filters kicked out the full-size battery

Exposed verniers add a hint of old-school cool

ENGINE 1988cc turbocharged Zetec DOHC (badged as Duratec RS), Sabre 400RS turbo, Milltek four-branch exhaust manifold finished in red Zircotec coating, Wossner forged pistons and forged conrods, heavy-duty bearings, ARP head bolts and main cap bolts, multi-layer head gasket, gas-flowed cylinder head, original RS camshafts with vernier adjustable cam pulleys, 630cc injectors, uprated fuel pump, Roose Motorsport silicone hoses, larger MAF sensor, Spec-R intercooler and big boost pipe kit, Spec-R header tank, Spec-R power steering tank, Spec-R brake fluid reservoir, Spec-R oil breather system, Spec-R battery cradle, Spec-R cam cover centre plate, Aeroquip braided hoses, Cobra Sport 3in exhaust system, Vibra-Technics engine mount, Sabre Stage 4 remap TRANSMISSION Original Focus RS MTX75 gearbox with factory-fit Quaife ATB diff, Sachs heavy-duty organic clutch SUSPENSION BC Racing BR Series coilovers all round BRAKES Front: original Focus RS Brembo fourpot callipers and 324mm ventilated discs; rear: solid 280mm discs (all refurbished) WHEELS & TYRES 8.5x18in Rota D154 alloys in gunmetal, 4x108 PCD, ET35, with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 245/40x18 tyres EXTERIOR Original Focus RS, front splitter INTERIOR Original Focus RS interior trim

40 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

Ultra-clean painted pipework

like her dad had back in the day? Nah. Too old and valuable (and fragile) to use in anger regularly – most are saved for a handful of shows per year, if that, these days.

What about a new Fiesta or Focus ST? Nope. They lack the Rallye Sport heritage Jaz was after.

Then the answer drove past – literally – and then parked on next-door’s driveway.

“Yeah, this car actually belonged to my next door neighbour,” laughs Jaz. The Mk1 Focus RS started to make a lot of sense; it’s modern enough to use whenever she wants, and is equally as capable popping out to the shops during the middle of the week as it is looking fabulous on the stands at weekend shows and events. It has all the Rallye Sport pedigree (arguably the first of the new breed of RS models) and, most importantly, it has bags of performance potential too.

Jaz finally got the keys to her ideal RS last year, and since then hasn’t wasted any time in putting her own stamp on things.

“The car was largely standard with only a handful of small mods, but the bodywork was perfect,” Jaz says.

Proving to be the perfect blank canvas for her vision of the ideal fast-road RS, Jaz spent the next few months towing the Focus (in her Ranger – of course it had to be a Ford) all over the country, visiting various specialists.

Now, we normally see a familiar pattern here: increase power – break something – uprate it – increase power some more – break something else… And so the cycle repeats.

That’s the typical way these stories unfold, but Jaz took a much more methodical and sensible approach. She explains, “The car had covered 68,000 miles, and I knew I wanted around 400bhp, so the first thing I did was take the car for an engine rebuild using forged parts. I wanted peace of mind of that I was going to have a good, strong engine.”

Dave Hill (who builds race engines at Mountune) was charged with the job of assembling all the upgraded hardware, which includes a set of Wossner forged pistons and rods, heavy-duty bearings, ARP fixings, a gas-flowed cylinder head, and vernier cam pulleys, among other bits.

With the new engine in place, the next stop was to see Leighton and Paul at Sabre

“I knew I wanted around 400bhp, so the first thing I did was take the car for an engine rebuild using forged parts. I wanted peace of mind of that I was going to have a good, strong engine”

DRIVER SPEC

JAZMIN HARRINGTON AGE 31 JOB Instagram influencer INSTAGRAM @Jaz_ harrington FIRST FORD “Ka, when I was 17” BEST MODIFICATION Spec-R intercooler FAVOURITE FORD SHOW OR EVENT? Ford Fair TRACK DAY OR SHOW & SHINE? “Definitely a track day” SIERRA RS500 OR FOCUS RS500? “Focus RS500 – I remember the first time I saw the car on Top Gear and fell in love with it” WRC OR BTCC? WRC LESSONS LEARNT FROM THIS PROJECT? “The modifications never end” WHAT’S NEXT “Track time, and a possible underfloor restoration” THANKS Dean Lee, Dave Hill for the engine build, Pete at Spec-R, Leighton and Paul at Sabre Tuning

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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M K1 F O C U S R S

Road or track?

Everywhere’s a hit in such a sweet RS

Wider rubber bulks out the wheelarches

Keys in, ignition on, itching to go

Tuning in Wiltshire. Based next to Castle Combe racetrack, these guys have built a reputation as go-to tuners when it comes to mapping big-power Focus RSs. Today, the company is getting well and truly stuck in to third generation Focus RS tuning, but it was their work with the Mk1 RS that first caught the attention of Ford fans.

With the brief of ‘I want 400bhp’ ringing in their ears, Leighton and Paul set about installing one of their Stage 4 upgrades.

Comprising a 400RS turbo upgrade, ceramiccoated Milltek four-branch exhaust manifold, a set of larger 630cc injectors, a big MAF upgrade and Sabre’s Stage 4 mapping, the Focus was now producing a solid 400bhp.

To make sure that it continues to do so, no matter how hard Jaz pushes things (whether that’s on the road or even on track, which is something she’s keen to explore), the next port of call for the Focus was Spec-R for a full suite of alloy upgrades.

First on the agenda was a decent size and 42 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

spec front-mounted intercooler – at 400bhp things get very hot, very quickly, so to stop the ECU being a party-pooper and pulling the power back (admittedly to save the engine from any serious damage), Jaz commissioned Pete at Spec-R to build and install one of the monster intercooler upgrades.

Now it doesn’t matter how hard Jaz abuses the RS, the charge air temperatures will remain stable and ensure that the Sabre software can continue deliver the full quota of 400-plus horses.

So impressed by the quality of Pete’s work, Jaz asked Spec-R to add a host of other alloy goodies: a header tank with sight glass, power steering reservoir tank, oil breather separator, brake fluid reservoir, battery cradle and cam cover centre plate were all fitted before the RS left Wiltshire and headed back to Essex.

Along the way, and in between trips all over the country, the RS has also seen its stock suspension binned in favour of some BC Racing coilovers, and the standard wheels

have been swapped for a set of menacing Rota D154 alloys – which, in contrasting gunmetal grey, suit the Imperial Blue bodywork perfectly. The rims are wrapped in slightly-wider-than-usual 245/40-profile Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, which give a small indication for Jaz’s intended next steps with this RS. She says, “I’ve already done a few shows with the car, and it’s been very well received, but I’ve fitted the Cup 2 tyres as I’m looking to do a track day very soon. I ordered them slightly oversized to give the car a wider look.”

If it goes as well as it looks, we’re sure Jaz will have fun on track. Come to think of it, however Jaz decides to use the car, it will rise to the task: it has enough power and performance but without compromising on reliability or practicality; it has enough style and road presence to impress and wow crowds at shows and events; and it offers the perfect combination of form and function. It really is the RS sweet spot.

E VE NT RE PORT R S C R O F T 2 0 21

Croft saw the first Focus to master the art of levitation

RS CROFT 2021 WHERE CROFT CIRCUIT, NORTH YORKSHIRE WHEN SUNDAY 18 JULY 2021

We joinDerbyshire and Durham RSOCat their annual Croft Circuit event Words and photos JON CASS

O

ne of the few events that managed to go ahead last year was the annual Durham and Derbyshire RSOC track day and show at Croft Circuit, near Darlington.

Although it was an enjoyable day with plenty of track action, with all the Covid restrictions in place the show was understandably tiny in comparison to previous years. Fortunately, for 2021 things were pretty much back to normal, and the incredibly high standard and volume of show cars we’ve come to expect from this popular event was back once more.

The mix of a track day and show at the same venue is always a major crowd pleaser, and combined with hot and sunny weather – possibly even a tad too hot for some – spirits remained high, with a friendly atmosphere 44 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

on and off the track. Temperatures in the mid-20s ensured the ice cream van had a long queue all day, which is not something we’re used to seeing at Croft...

This may not be the biggest Ford show on the calendar, but the high standard of cars in attendance within the showground from all the visiting clubs is always impressive. Very rarely would you see a whole row of Sierra Cosworths parked together these days, with plenty more just around the corner. And we’re not just talking restored standard examples, as many of the cars were modified, just like the old days. Yes, they do still exist.

RS Turbos and XRs were well represented too, again standard and modified. And, along with a healthy mix of Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts, there was plenty to keep old-school Blue Oval fans happy.

For those into the more modern era of fast Fords there was still plenty to see, with Fiestas and Focuses galore – many again fitted with a wide range of mods. We’re beginning to see the latest generation Fiesta ST modified in greater numbers now, confirming the pocket rocket remains a firm favourite.

Fiesta fans would have been just as happy watching the track action, as once again there were many examples of Ford’s smaller hot hatch battling with each other all day. Sierras, Focuses and RWD Escorts provided variety – along with some sideways action in some cases – and mixed things up with the usual exotic machinery and Japanese hatches.

As ever, RS Croft (as it’s affectionately known) didn’t disappoint. We’ll be back once again next year for one of the most entertaining days on the Ford calendar.

Livery is a replica of Colin McRae’s Focus WRC With 280bhp there’s power to match the looks

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

DARREN MENZIES FOCUS RS

We featured Darren’s Mk1 Focus RS a few years ago, but since then his car has changed almost beyond recognition. Although the specification of the engine remains largely the same, with 280bhp thanks to a Bluefin chip, tubular manifold, and Scorpion exhaust, it couldn’t look more different. As

a die-hard rally fan, Darren took the bold step to recreate Colin McRae’s Rally Catalunya livery from 2000, with Blueprint nominated for the job.

Darren says, “Finding the right wheels was far trickier. I managed to track down a company in Spain called Braid, which made replicas of the original 8x18in rims Colin’s car would

have had.” They weren’t cheap, but they complete the look Darren was aiming for perfectly. A Sparco steering wheel and flocked dash continue the rally theme inside, although Darren is toying with the idea of fitting rally seats, harnesses, and a roll cage for that full-on rally replica look.

QUICK SPEC 8x18in Braid alloys, Colin McRae replica WRC wrap, tubular manifold, Bluefin chip, Scorpion exhaust, fully poly-bushed, ST170 climate control, Sparco steering wheel, flocked dash

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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We can see a bright future for Barry’s Sapphire

Predictably, there’s plenty of power

Gauges warn of potential problems

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

BARRY PROPHET SAPPHIRE COSWORTH

The specification of Barry’s RWD Sapphire Cosworth is noticeably similar to that of Chris’s black threedoor; being good friends they’ve chosen to take a similar route with their modifications. If you’re told a certain mod is a worthwhile purchase by your mate, how could you say no?

Like Chris, Barry began his foray into the Ford scene with Escort RS

Turbos, though a sorted Cosworth was always his ultimate goal.

He says, “I bought this car as a stripped shell and basically built the car up the way I wanted it. It was originally four-wheel drive, but I decided to convert it to rearwheel drive.” The transmission and engine specification are almost a mirror image of Chris’s car, save for a GTX3071 turbo. The AP

brakes and GAZ coilovers make a reappearance, and it adds up to the same grin factor behind the wheel.

Barry managed to track down a rare Rouse rear spoiler and a set of Compomotive TH rims (badged as OZ), adding a more purposeful look to the exterior.

Maybe one day we’ll see Barry and Chris’s Cosworths in a head-tohead match.

QUICK SPEC 4x4 converted to RWD, GTX3071 turbo, uprated engine internals, 200 block, ported head, Hart inlet, BD16 inlet cam, Glebe dog ‘box, Supra MA70 diff, MK Motorsport adjustable rear axle, GAZ coilovers, AP Racing brakes, Compomotive TH alloys, Rouse rear spoiler, Mongoose exhaust, 100mm Airtec intercooler

Black paint and Racelines look tough...

Matched by 525bhp YB

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

CHRIS H SIERRA COSWORTH

One thing the Croft RS show guarantees is an impressive turnout of Sierra Cosworths, and who doesn’t love a lairy three-door in black with gold rims? Chris H has owned this stunning example for 13 years, bought to replace his standard S1 Escort RS Turbo.

The Sierra didn’t stay stock for long, and within a year, Chris had added an impressive range of

mods. It seems he’s never slowed down since, and the current mouthwatering spec provides 525bhp from the uprated YB engine with its GT3076 turbo. The transmission has been beefed up with a Glebe dog ‘box and Supra MA70 diff, while the handling and braking have been vastly improved thanks to GAZ coilovers and AP Racing brakes. Its gold Raceline alloys contrast perfectly with the

black paintwork.

Despite owning a car most people would give their right arm for, Chris has plenty more changes in the pipeline – including an even bigger BorgWarner turbo, tubular manifold, external wastegate and aftermarket engine management.

The current 525bhp is impressive, but expect to see some seriously high figures soon...

QUICK SPEC 200 block, uprated engine internals, ported head, Hart inlet, BD16 inlet cam, GT3076 turbo, Glebe dog ’box, Supra MA70 diff, MK Motorsport adjustable rear axle, GAZ coilovers, AP Racing brakes, Raceline RL7 wheels, boost controller, 525bhp

46 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

Barry’s S1 was many people’s car of the show

Retromodded cabin houses subtle Stack dash

ZVH offers up to 360bhp

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

BARRY MELDRUM SERIES ONE ESCORT RS TURBO

As we’ve already mentioned, the quality of cars at Croft is always exceptionally high, but one car that did manage to stand out was Barry Meldrum’s red Series One RS Turbo, executed to an incredibly high standard throughout.

Barry bought the RS already partly modified in 2017 and decided to fully strip the car anyway, replacing the wings ready for his custom rebuild. He’s fitted a 2.0litre ZVH conversion mated to an

M66 six-speed gearbox from a Mk2 Focus RS, while AEM Infinity engine management – complete with 12 boost modes – brings the power available up to 360bhp.

The engine bay has been well thought out too; the battery has been relocated to the boot to enable a breather tank to be slotted into place under the bonnet. Barry has also spared no expense fitting a bespoke intercooler and titanium exhaust, while the chassis benefits from GAZ

coilovers, although they may soon be replaced by a set of Ohlins.

The AP Racing four-pot brakes peek through the spokes of those attractive 17in OZ rims, and the interior doesn’t disappoint either: half-leather Recaros add a touch of luxury, and how cool is that subtle Stack digital dash?

Barry travelled all the way from Anglesey for the show, – which is a mammoth journey – but we’re glad he decided to make the trip.

QUICK SPEC 2.0-litre ZVH, M66 six-speed gearbox from Mk2 Focus RS, AEM Infinity engine management system, 12 boost modes, battery in boot, relocated breather tank, full titanium exhaust, bespoke intercooler, AP Racing fourpot brakes, 7x17in OZ alloys in anthracite, GAZ coilovers, half-leather Recaro seats, Stack dash

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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Ex-German racer is a proper little sleeper

Rev-happy 1.6 spits out 220bhp

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

BRYAN THOMPSON MK7 FIESTA ZS

Just like the previous few years, Fiestas were out in force at Croft for 2021. One that really caught our eye was this 2011 Zetec S piloted

by Bryan Thompson – a man who happens to have had plenty of track experience in Fiestas of all guises.

This Mk7 is his favourite so far.

Bryan says, “It raced in Germany in the support series of the European touring cars. I was looking for a German Mk6 ST Cup car, but saw this for sale with a better spec.”

With the help of his brother and a transporter, Bryan travelled over to Germany to pick up the ZS: “We were pleasantly surprised to find the car to be even better than expected.

My only real concern was getting used to sitting on the wrong side while driving flat out,” laughs Bryan.

Bryan needn’t have worried, though, as his pace was right up there, and in a car weighing in at 770kg with 220bhp under the bonnet, this innocent looking Fiesta is pretty rapid to say the least.

The carbon panels, stripped interior and Perspex windows help to provide the incredibly light weight, while the rev-happy 1.6 Zetec S Sigma engine benefits from Jenvey throttle bodies, an uprated fuel system and KMS 35 ECU. That gives this feisty Fiesta a power-to-weight ratio of 285bhp-per-tonne – which is about

the same as the new track-inspired Mustang Mach-1.

No expense has been spared on the chassis either, with KW three-way competition-spec coilovers, Brembo four-pot callipers, and those lightweight ATS GTR rims contrasting with the white paintwork. Fully slick tyres meant Bryan had maximum grip on the warm and dry Croft circuit, and he was putting in some impressive lap times as a result.

The full multi-point roll cage, Recaro seats and CAE shifter continue the motorsport theme inside; this is one Fiesta we came away feeling very impressed by.

QUICK SPEC 1596cc Sigma, ported head, pocketed pistons, Jenvey throttle bodies, uprated fuel system, KMS 35 ECU, carbon doors, tailgate and bonnet, Perspex windows, KW three-way coilovers, Brembo four-pot brakes, ATS GTR 7x15in alloy wheels, Yokohama full slicks, Recaro seats, multi-point roll cage, GP Racing air jacks, CAE shifter, 220bhp, 770kg

48 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

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Think your car is worthy of a feature in Fast Ford?

Send us a brief description, a quick spec list, and a few photos (no more than 5!) to fastford.ed@kelsey.co.uk and we’ll take a look!

Your pride and joy could soon be splashed across these very pages…!

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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E VE NT RE PORT F O R D F A I R 2 0 21

HP Tuners sponsored the Fast Ford stand and brought along a few fast Fords of their own too

FORD FAIR 2021 WHERE SILVERSTONE WHEN AUGUST 8

After a year away, it was fantastic to be back at Silverstone for the biggest Blue Oval bash of the year, and it didn’t disappoint.

Here are some of the best bits from Ford Fair 2021…

Words JAMIE / Photos JASON DODD, DAN SHERWOOD, DAVE MOORE, JULES TRUSS, JAMES SMYTH

A

fter missing out on most shows and events in 2020, Ford Fair sponsored by Mountune made a welcome return to Silverstone on 8 August. Ford fans were keen to get back out and enjoy showing their cars alongside fellow Blue Oval enthusiasts, and even the rain didn’t dampen their spirits. We’ve been going to Ford Fair for years, and can honestly say this is the first time we’ve ever got wet.

Thankfully, aside from a couple of short showers, the weather held out for the most part and all those in attendance were able to enjoy a fantastic show. The layout of the event was slightly different from previous years – a hangover from the coronavirus pandemic and a reminder that things aren’t quite back to normal just yet. The absence of Paul Swift and the Live Action Arena (which was prohibited 52 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

to prevent crowds congregating in one area) meant the trade village was located in the middle of the show. The number of traders may have been fewer than previous years (as it has been with every event we’ve attended this year), but the retail areas were a constant hive of activity throughout the day, with showgoers talking to experts, gathering advice, or picking up the latest upgrades for their cars.

The new layout also meant headline sponsor Mountune was relocated to the pit garages, and the team made the most of the indoor space, using some of the garages to house an awesome line-up of demo and customer cars, while turning others into a retail stand and VIP area, complete with coffee shop and live DJ. Of course, Fast Ford was there too, with one of the best displays of the entire show;

past, present and future exhibits ranged from classic motorsport machines right through to the latest trend-setting show cars, with everything else in between – all in the HP Tuners-sponsored magazine paddock.

Elsewhere, Ford Fair 2021 celebrated anniversaries for the Fiesta and the ST brand; the club displays around the Silverstone site were some of the very best we’ve ever seen; the track action was coming thick and fast throughout the day and included a dedicated demo session from the Modified Fords race series; and the whole event was an epic celebration of all things Ford.

It was just the tonic we all needed after the past 18 months or so, and it was great to finally meet up with so many familiar faces and enjoy a day of chatting cars with likeminded enthusiasts.

Feisty Fiesta has a full feature coming soon...

Brian Betteridge’s RS1700T always draws a crowd Carl Taylor’s radical RS Turbo was built for shows like this Ali McMillan’s camo Cossie was on track throughout the day

Ford-Mania boss man Ian Taylor was showcasing a new splitter on his famous Focus

FAST FORD STAND

Of course, the UK’s biggest and best-selling Ford tuning magazine was at the biggest Blue Oval event of the year; we had a huge stand of past, present and future cars on display. This year, the Fast Ford stand was sponsored by HP Tuners, who brought along a few fast Fords of their own, and were on hand to talk fans through their latest products too.

With over 50 top-quality cars on display, the Fast Ford stand was the highlight of the entire show for many and allowed show-goers to get up close and personal with many of the modified machines they’ve been reading about in recent issues.

The Fast Ford stand was also the place to pick up the latest issue of the magazine, any back issues you might have missed, show guides, or Ford Fair-branded merchandise.

The mag stand featured past, present and a few future feature cars Danny Tanton’s screaming ST was loud and proud, even when just parked up

COSWORTH COLLECTIVE

New for 2021, Ford Fair sponsored by Mountune hosted a dedicated Cosworthonly paddock. We all know that everyone loves a Cossie, and the sad fact is these cars aren’t as common at shows and events as they once were.

But Cossies deserve to be seen and admired, so Ford Fair organisers set aside a dedicated display area and invited Cosworth owners to join together and exhibit their cars in the Cosworth Collective display. And it looked the nuts! We’d hate to guess how many YB-powered horses were on show on this one stand alone, but it made for a fantastic spectacle – let’s hope it’s a feature that stays, and that next year even more Cossies come out of hiding for the show.

Cossies everywhere – just what the doctor ordered!

The Cosworth Collective was a Mecca for oldschool Blue Oval fans

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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Roll up, roll up, read all about it!

SHOW AND SHINE

A mainstay of Ford Fair is the show and shine competition, which for 2021 was once again sponsored

by Auto Finesse. There were some stunning cars in the contest, and the diversity of the entrants this year was unbelievable. That can been seen from the winners – Ed Stratta’s restored Capri 3.0S scooping top prize, with Max Williams’s totally original and immaculate Mk3 Fiesta taking the runner-up spot, while Paul Bourne’s beautiful Mk2 Focus RS rounded-out the top three.

Alongside the cars battling it out in the showand-shine competition itself, Auto Finesse also hosted a paddock of fantastic trendsetting fast Fords.

Comp THs – always a winner on a Saff

FULL FEATURE COMING SOON

Healthy 400bhp YB is lively

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

STEVE RAYBOULD SAPPHIRE COSWORTH

Steve’s car caught our eye as we were scouting through the awesome selection of cars on the Cosworth Collective stand. Just as we started to get chatting to Steve, the heavens opened for one of the brief downpours that plagued the morning, but getting a little damp around the edges wasn’t going to put us off finding out more about

54 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

this stunning Sapphire.

We won’t give away too much here, as Steve and his Saph will be appearing in a full feature very soon, but the Cossie looked so good on show that we just had to include it for a little cameo in this show report.

Under the bonnet, the YB has been fettled to produce a strong – and lively – 400bhp, but it all looks very

factory-fit in the engine bay. In fact, the whole car has a distinct OEMplus vibe about it; clearly the more menacing stance and 18in Comps aren’t stock, but they look like they belong – helped by subtle additions like badges on the mirrors. It all comes together to create a modern interpretation of a classic, without losing any of that retro charm.

Even worms had cameras at Ford Fair

Subtle - and stunning

SERIES TWO RS TURBOS

S2s always get a big thumbs-up

This year the much-loved Series Two Escort RS Turbo turns 35, so Ford Fair sponsored by Mountune hosted a dedicated display of S2s. Once the king of the seafront cruise, the RS Turbo is now a fully paidup classic fast Ford, but our love for the iconic hot hatch has never faltered, and it was great to see so many on show.

Once commonplace, the Mk3 Fiesta is now a rare sight on the road

ANNIVERSARY ZONE

ST clubs were grouped together to celebrate 25 years of the brand

This year sees the much-loved Fiesta celebrate its 45th birthday, and can you believe it’s also 25 years since we first saw the first ST-badged Blue Oval? To celebrate both milestones, Ford Fair had all Fiesta-based and ST-based clubs grouped together in what became a dedicated anniversary zone. Sadly, the heavens opened as we ventured round this part of the show, so we didn’t get the chance to speak with as many owners as we would have liked because they all darted for temporary cover, but the cars on show still looked amazing and the buffties out there would have appreciated the endless water-beading shots our snapper Jason was able to capture.

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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Scan, Read, Edit, Write, Drive.

Yo u r v e h i c l e i s n ’ t c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t H P Tu n e rs ; s p e a k t o y o u r t u n e r a b o u t t h e l a t e s t m u s t - h a v e t u n i n g t o o l c o m i n g t o E u ro p e n o w.

hptuners.com

E VE NT RE PORT F O R D F A I R 2 0 21

CLUB PROFILE

MK1 FOCUS RS OWNERS NAME Clayton Borg CLUB Mk1 Focus RS Owners’ Club WEBSITE www. mk1focusrsoc.com FACEBOOK www.facebook. com/mk1focusrsoc INSTAGRAM www. instagram.com/ mk1focusrsoc COST TO JOIN £16 per year

CLUB STANDS

There were some amazing club stands on show this year, and as we wandered around the show we couldn’t help but be impressed; stands that particularly caught our eye this year were Ford-Mania and Rolling Oval for the sheer size of their stands (well over 100 sorted Fords on each), the Mk1 Focus RS Owners’ Club for their amazing line-up (all parked with perfect precision as we’ve come to expect from these guys), and the Tangerine Scream ST Owners and #teamtictacs for their impressive – and very colourful – displays of awesome fast Fords.

CLUB PROFILE

FORD MANIA NAME Ian Taylor CLUB Ford Mania WEBSITE www.ford-mania.uk FACEBOOK www.facebook. com/fordmania.uk INSTAGRAM @fordmania.uk COST TO JOIN Free

HOW MANY CARS ON DISPLAY AT FORD FAIR 2021? “We have 33 cars this year” WHICH MODELS DOES THE CLUB CATER FOR? “Mk1 Focus RS only” HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN ATTENDING FORD FAIR? “Many of our members have been going for years – I’ve been coming since 2005.”

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT FORD FAIR? “We have huge demand from club members wanting to attend Ford Fair because it’s the largest Ford outside event of the year at a great location” WILL THE CLUB BE BACK FOR FORD FAIR 2022? “Too right we will! Next year is the 20th anniversary of the Mk1 Focus RS, so we’ll be there to celebrate in style”

HOW MANY CARS ON DISPLAY AT FORD FAIR 2021? “We’ve got 138 cars in total this year” WHICH MODELS DOES THE CLUB CATER FOR? “We cater for all Ford models of any age” HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN ATTENDING FORD FAIR? “This year is our 15th in attendance as a club, and my personal 18th year at the show” WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT FORD FAIR? “The best thing for us is seeing so many people, and catching up with them against a plethora of old and new cars, with the thrills of the track action too” WILL THE CLUB BE BACK FOR FORD FAIR 2022?

“Absolutely, we will be”

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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E VE NT RE PORT F O R D F A I R 2 0 21

Current BTTC Focus on display in the Mountune garage....

Alongside a race-spec RS200

MODIFIED FORDS

Friend of the mag Paul Linfoot joined the Modified Ford gang in his RS500 touring car

New for 2021, Ford Fair hosted the Modified Fords race series. These pukka race cars formed an incredible display in front of the pit garages, but where these Blue Ovals really belong is out on track, so at 11am that’s exactly where they went for their own dedicated track session. With race cars ranging from classic Capris and Mk1/2 Escorts right through to modern Fiestas and Focuses, this display had something for everyone. They did all have one thing in common, though – they’re all incredibly fast.

The Modified Ford race cars were some of the fastest Fords to take to the track

58 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

David Mountain seemed happy

MOUNTUNE

As headline sponsor for the entire show, Mountune always puts on one of the best stands at the event, and 2021 was no different. This year the Mountune stand was found in the pit garages just up from the Fast Ford stand, and was one of the hottest spots of the show. Making full use of the new surroundings, Mountune used the garages and paddock area to display a huge fleet of development cars – many now boasting the latest upgrades – and Mountune-fettled customer cars. Inside the top garage you’d find the retail stand (along with the queues the Mountune stand is now famous for at Ford Fair), along with a VIP chill-out area, a barista coffee shop, and a live DJ. Mountune also used the day to launch a host of new performance products, with the latest ranges for the Mk8 Fiesta ST, new Puma ST, and Mk4 Focus ST proving to be incredibly popular on the day.

FULL FEATURE COMING SOON

That’s not a wrap – that’s matt purple paint!

Forged engine build is already under way

Interior has been retrimmed to match

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

STEVE MCLUCKIE MK2 FOCUS RS

Steve McLuckie’s Mk2 Focus RS was a fresh reveal for Ford Fair 2021, and despite owning it for four years, Stephen only really started the mods just before lockdown struck. The engine is currently running a full CP400 upgrade, along with Airtec Stage 3 intercooler and Section 59 exhaust, but a fully-forged engine build is already under way at Pumabuild.

“It went in to Pumabuild to get

the underside sorted, as it was quite bad under there,” says Steve as he explains how the standard dream car slowly started its transformation into show stunner.

He continues, “I was going to get it resprayed in a fresh coat of Frozen White before I planned to get it wrapped in a matt purple, but the paint shop just shrugged ‘why don’t you just paint it matt purple?’, so that’s what we did.”

Yes, this is no wrap – it’s a proper paint job, and it looks stunning in the metal, let us assure you.

To complement the new finish, Steve has had the interior retrimmed in purple, fitted Bola CSR rims, added massive AP Racing brakes, and as we alluded to, the engine build is already under way in preparation for some extra power.

More to come on this one as the build develops...

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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AWARDS AND WINNERS

No one told the gang their umbrellas had been stolen

This year, Ford Fair organisers awarded Top Ten rosettes to the best Cosworths, best Fiestas and best STs; and with so many of each on display we can imagine that wasn’t an easy task. In addition to that, there were the traditional club stand honours up for grabs; this year the Best Club Stand went to The Ford Bible (who paid an amazing tribute to a member who is sadly no longer with us as part of their display), the Best Classic Club trophy went to West London Classic Ford, the Best Regional Club was Northants Ovals, while the Club Hero award went to #TEAMTICTACS. Ed Stratta and his Capri 3.0S won the show-and-shine

Rosettes were awarded to the ten best Cossies

#teamtictacs took away the Club Hero award

Top 10 Fiestas were also given rosettes

One of the stand-out cars at the show was Tobias’s rear-wheel-drive, turbo’d ST170-powered Fiesta XR2i

FULL FEATURE COMING SOON

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

TOBIAS ARKELL MK3 FIESTA XR2i

One of the things we love most about shows like Ford Fair is that, despite living in an age where everyone’s every move is plastered all over social media, there are still some folk out there who keep themselves to themselves and spend their time busy working away in the garage

60 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

building something truly special.

Making the long trip up all the way from deepest Cornwall was Tobias Arkell and his – at first – innocentlooking Fiesta XR2i. Having been kept away from the internet and not having any shows to attend for the last 18 months, Tobias has spent that time

converting his beloved Fiesta to rearwheel drive. “It was already running a Zetec turbo from previous upgrades over the years, and when I saw a feature on an orange Mk2 Fiesta in the mag, I decided it would be good to convert this,” smiles Tobias. So, with the angle grinder fired up, a suitable

RWD gearbox from a Mazda RX7 and an English rear axle all sourced, the conversion began. And today was the first time many, including us, got to see it in the metal. We won’t give away too much, as we’ve got the full feature coming up in a couple of issues time...

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Well, if so, all you need to do is ask!

Simply email us, or post a picture of your car on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages and add the hashtag ‘#printmyford’, and each month we’ll choose our favourites and print them in this aptly named feature.

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Alternatively, drop us an email with a couple of pics, a full spec list of any mods and upgrades, and a few details about your time with the car to fastford.ed@kelsey.co.uk with the subject heading ‘print my ford’ and we’ll pick our favourites for a slightly more detailed review each month too.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

+6%,%1Ʉ+-00-2+7 PUMA RACING

Graham has been a Ford fan for many years, and we’ve bumped into him and his Puma Racing at various shows and events over the years. “I’ve owned the Puma Racing for 15 years now,” says Graham. For most of that time it’s doubled as a daily driver and track toy, although Graham admits since the underside resto and full respray last year, it no longer gets used quite so hard – besides, he has a regular Puma 1.7 these days for track duties. Evidence of the Racing’s time on track can be seen from the choice of upgrades Graham’s fitted over the years too; the handling has always been spot-on from the factory, but Graham’s added a limited-slip diff to his for better traction on circuit, and fitted a 909 Motorsport rear spoiler too.

But the biggest upgrade has been the addition of nitrous oxide! It now kicks out a solid 200bhp with the gas switched on, which gives the FRP the pep it’s always deserved. And while it may not be such a regular on track these days, Graham, still likes to use it properly when he does drive it.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

TED FOWLER MK6 FIESTA ST

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We’re seeing something of a resurgence in popularity for the Mk6 Fiesta ST these days, and as huge fans of the little pocket rocket ourselves, we can see why. Ted’s Frozen White beauty here is the perfect example of just how versatile the Mk6 ST can be; it’s his daily-driver yet packs an enormous list of mods to improve both performance and style over the factory-spec car. That 2.0-litre Duratec powerplant is stuffed full of goodies like Newman Phase 2 cams, while it breathes in via a Mountune cold air intake and Cosworth inlet manifold, and then back out again through a free-flowing Milltek exhaust system. That means the custom map from Jamsport can really optimise the tuning, producing an impressive 192bhp.

Elsewhere you’ll find clever, well-planned upgrades in all the right places; the power steering relocation kit prevents the well-publicised issues of the stock setup, a full set of poly-bushes eliminates any slop in the suspension, and those Bola B10s just look the nuts in matching bright white.

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JASON SMITH MK3 CAPRI

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Who doesn’t love a Capri? It’s the model that epitomises fast Fords of the Seventies and Eighties, but unless you were particularly wealthy most owners couldn’t stretch to the big V6-engine monsters that stole the marketing headlines and had to settle for the more ‘everyday’ 1.6s instead. But if there’s one trait the Capri really did kick-start, it was the DIY Ford tuning scene – and Jason’s continuing that tradition with his example. “This started life as a 1.6, and I bought it a few years ago as a standard car that hadn’t been on the road since 1988,” he explains. Since then, Jason has been a busy boy; the Capri is now fully road legal, and under the bonnet lurks a 2.8-litre Cologne V6 with a Weber 38DGAS carb sat on top. And that’s now hooked up to a five-speed gearbox, while the suspension and brakes have all been suitably beefed-up, and the interior boasts early fishnet Recaro trim too.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

NICK OSBORNE MK3 FOCUS ST TDCi

SHANE WALLER 66 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

A few years ago diesel tuning was all the rage, but in recent years it’s dropped off the radar as manufacturers turned their attention to small-engine, turbocharged units instead. However, people like Nick Osborne are still aware of the potential of a well-sorted oil-burner and are more than happy to extract it. Nick’s Mk3 Focus ST can, and does, give its petrol-powered siblings a proper run for their money; it kicks out a healthy 255bhp alongside a whopping 405lb.ft of torque, thanks in part to a hybrid turbo from AET Motorsport and VUDU software.

All of that torque makes this Focus a formidable track machine, and that’s something Nick is happy to exploit; Gaz Gold coilovers and Hardrace roll bars sort the chassis, Brembos from the Mk3 RS improve the stopping power, while a stripped and caged interior adds rigidity and reduces weight too.

And then there’s the subtle flared arches too. “I made my own wide-arch kit over lockdown from some oversized universal ABS arches,” explains Nick, “it wasn’t an easy task, but I had a vision.” And, with patience and determination, that vision became a reality that’s now admired and respected at both shows and track days alike.

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Check out what’s been going on with our pro ects this month…

p72

p70

DAN FOCUS ST250 The Fondeo makes the trip to Silverstone to be part of the magazine’s display stand at Ford Fair 2021. Dan and Jamie parked alongside Ian Taylor’s ST in a little Mk3 Focus threesome!

DAN SIERRA COSSIE Dan keeps promising he’ll get the Cossie back on the road, but keeps getting distracted. Progress is slow, but Dan says he’ll update us next issue. Maybe it will be ready in time for the 40th anniversary..?

JAMIE FOCUS RS This month the RS has been filming with Classics World as Jamie joins a convoy comprising a Mk3 Cortina, a Mk3 XR3i and a Mk8 Fiesta on a road trip to Silverstone ahead of Ford Fair.

ADE SAPPHIRE COSWORTH Ford Fair marks five years since the Sapphire was taken off the road.

Ade has plans to get the Cossie fighting fit again soon, but as ever, other projects keep getting in the way.

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PAUL COWLAND MUSTANG V8

MOTORBASE FOCUS BTCC CARS

Paul’s addressed all the big jobs on his to-do list: suspension, wheels and tyres, exhaust and remap. Now he’s just enjoying the fruits of his labour, but it won’t be long before the next batch of mods begin.

The Motorbase Performance Focus BTCC cars have been racing at Oulton Park and Knockhill as the Championship hits the halfway point of the season. Full report on page 79.

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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Blue Ovals old and new made a road trip film en route to Silverstone

Taking the scenic route to Ford Fair following some classic Blue Ovals

The road trip started at Haynes Motor Musuem in Somerset

JAMIE FOCUS RS

ROAD TRIPPIN’ Jamie’s RS makes a cameo appearance in a Classics World film as a quartet of new and old Blue Ovals make the pilgrimage to Ford Fair QUICK SPEC Mountune m400R ■ Velgen Classic5 alloys ■ Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres ■ H&R lowering springs ■ 3M wrap by VWC in Leeds ■ Mountune axle-back and sports cat ■ H&R anti-roll bars ■ Tarox brakes ■ Mishimoto intercooler, intake kit, and oil cooler kits ■ Quaife ATB

After getting out and about in the Focus more often in the last few weeks, when I was invited to join the Classics World crew for a road trip to Ford Fair, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. The plan was to meet up at Haynes Motor Museum nice and early on the Saturday morning before taking the scenic route up to Silverstone, and the whole thing would be filmed for an upcoming video on the Classics World website.

Sadly, my Focus RS wasn’t going to be the main star of the video – it’s far too new (and modified) for the classics guys to fully 70 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

appreciate. The focus of the film was going to be on Lancaster Insurance’s early Escort XR3i (which has appeared in a few previous Classics World videos), and their latest project car – a Mk3 Cortina that was recently imported from South Africa and collected from Car Cave Scotland only a few weeks before the trip. Talk about baptism of fire!

My Focus RS would make a few cameo appearances and, alongside Classic World writer Jeff Ruggles’s Mk8 Fiesta ST company car, would make for an attractive Blue Oval backdrop for the filming, as well as providing a nice bookend to the old and new Ford models making the annual pilgrimage to Ford Fair.

With all four cars assembled at the starting point at Haynes in Somerset, videographer Joe Miller grabbed the shots he needed, did his intro, strapped Go-Pros to the modern cars to capture the classics, and we headed out through some of the twisty roads of Somerset, through Wiltshire, into picturesque Gloucestershire villages such as Bourtonon-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold, before dropping across Oxfordshire and finally into Northamptonshire to arrive at Silverstone.

The whole trip took the best part of the day – mainly for us to stop and regroup the convoy, which seemingly became separated at every junction or roundabout – but it was a

On stand at Ford Fair next to Dan’s ST Estate

“Quick, do your best Top Gear pose...”

great chance to drive side-by-side with some of the classic machines that built the good Ford’s reputation; cars like the XR3i laid the foundations for the fast Ford scene that we all enjoy to this day.

Of course, the only downside of taking such an elongated route comprising B-roads and scenic lanes meant by the time I arrived at Silverstone, my car was filthy. And with a safety briefing on site at 5am on the Sunday, I wasn’t looking forward to having to clean the car at the crack of dawn.

Thankfully, a quick wipe down with some waterless wash lifted most of the dirt and dust away nicely, and for the more stubborn marks I’ve found that a good quality glass cleaner works wonders on the satin wrap.

Detailers might squirm at the thought, but with many quick detailers and similar products all containing glossy additives, I need something that would clean the dirt away without adding any shine; a highalcohol-content glass cleaner and a boot full of clean microfibres did the trick.

And with that, the RS was parked up on the magazine stand and I set about getting on with my many other tasks for the day. I apologise to anyone who was hoping to catch me at Ford Fair for a chat, as I was rushed off my feet this year and couldn’t spend as much time on the mag stand as I’d hoped.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all the owners who brought a car along for the magazine stand. The display this year was truly epic and included everything the fast Ford scene stands for; from subtle factory-spec originals to the wild show cars that wow crowds, from fast-road daily drivers to genuine race-winning classic motorsport machines, the Fast Ford stand was an eclectic mix of all things Blue Oval.

Being so busy during the day also meant that I didn’t have time to venture out on track as I’d planned. But with a smaller mag stand to look after at TRAX in October, I think I’ll book some track time for then instead – you watch, Ford Fair was wet in August, so it’ll probably be a scorcher at TRAX in October.

At the end of the show, I did manage to grab a chat with Fast Ford regular faces Dan Williamson and Ade Brannan [when we performed a pretty accurate rendition of Last of the Summer Wine - DW]. Dan was keen to get out and enjoy some miles in the Fondeo, while Ade was fresh back from three weeks in the Balearics – not that you’d be able to tell from his ghostly tan, as he spent most of the time by the pool editing photoshoots.

After missing most of 2020, it was genuinely brilliant to get back out there and have a proper catch up with old mates face-to-face.

And that’s been my highlight of Ford Fair 2021; yes, the cars were brilliant, the show was a huge success, but for me it’s the people that make the fast Ford scene what it is, and I was thrilled to finally get to see you all again.

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FAST FLE E T

Dan’s ST wagon (right) didn’t get chance to hassle Jamie’s RS. Maybe next time...

DAN FOCUS ST3

ALL THE FUN OF THE ‘FAIR Dan makes sure the Fondeo is ready to show off at Silverstone

QUICK SPEC Focus ST-3 ■ Direnza MVT intercooler and hard pipes ■ Gravity sports cat ■ Gravity full exhaust system ■ Peron/AET Motorsport stage one remap ■ Steeda cold air inlet system (CAIS) ■ Turbosmart dump valve ■ Steeda short-shifter ■ H&R 25mm lowering springs ■ H&R 20mm wheel spacers ■ Powerflex Handling Pack ■ Focus RS Brembo callipers ■ EBC USR discs ■ EBC Bluestuff front/Yellowstuff rear pads ■ EBC braided brake lines ■ ST Mk4 19in alloys

ord Fair is pretty much the only event on the car-show calendar that I try not to miss.

Okay, I had a few years off in the days of Max Power bodykits and bass bins being more important than performance – but I was freelancing for Redline in those days, so I saw enough plastic during the working week. And that was just the nekkid girls.

72 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

Anyway, back to the point. I always try to make Ford Fair, and I always promise myself I’ll go in something interesting. But aside from the fact that my Sierra is still shamefully unfinished, I really didn’t enjoy queueing outside Silverstone with a paddle clutch and cooling fans that may decide to stop working at any given opportunity.

So this year, as usual, I decided to take the Fondeo – AKA my Focus ST250 estate. It’s comfy, the air con works perfectly, and it can

give RSs a run for their money en route to the event – although, after a close call a couple of years ago, I asked my mate, Mike, to make sure there was none of that silly business now we’re old enough to know better.

Talking of which, did anyone else notice how Ford Fair is comfortingly familiar each year, only that there’s increasingly more grey hair in the crowds?

Anyway, I’m digressing again. The point is that despite promising to take something interesting to the show, I ended up yet again in my everyday Focus estate. I parked it at the back of the Fast Ford stand next to Jamie’s mucky RS, and ventured out into the rain.

And that’s when it struck me: the ST250 is a bloody great car. Not just to drive, but it looks the part too, sitting slightly lower on its H&R springs, spacers, Mk4 19s and RS Brembos, its Direnza intercooler ever-soslightly in view behind the grille. For once, I’d washed and polished the car before a show, and for once I could park it up without apologising for being beside some of Fast Ford’s most splendid show machines.

Did it make me want to add more modifications? Not really. Did it make me want to convert to RS running gear, like Shan’s nearby Fast Ford cover car? Well, of course. Did it make me want to return in 2022 with my old three-door Sierra? I’ll let you know next year.

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FORDS IN MOTORSPORT

It was good to see old-school Fords fighting as hard as ever: Steve Dance on his way to an impressive P2 in the Cologne Capri Mighty Sierra RS500s are still unbeatable on track

RS500s STILL DOMINATING ON TRACK Legendary Sierra RS500 Cosworths are still racing – and still winning – as a field of iconic racers take to the track for the Historic Touring Car Challenge at The Classic, Silverstone Wordsand photos PAUL LAWRENCE

T

wo weeks after Lewis Hamilton and Jos Verstappen had their territorial dispute at Copse Corner on the former wartime airfield in Northamptonshire, Ford RS500s took on Nissan Skylines – and it was Mark Wright and Dave Coyne who scooped a memorable win for the Blue Oval.

By every possible measure, The Classic, Silverstone, is the biggest festival of historic racing in the UK (and probably Europe). Back after a COVID-induced absence in 2020, and with a slightly tweaked name, this year marked a delayed 30th anniversary of the very first historic racing festival at Silverstone.

When that first event ran in 1990, the Sierra RS500 Cosworth was a state-of-the-art racing touring car and, three decades later, they were out in force to take on Nissan Skylines 74 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

and BMW M3s in the Motor Racing Legends Historic Touring Car Challenge.

No less than seven RS500s, the biggest pack of the season, lined up for a wet and greasy qualifying session on Friday ahead of Sunday’s 50-minute race. Despite conditions that were really better suited to the four-wheel-drive Nissans, the RS500s were magnificent and packed out the top 12, along with two of the three Nissans and three stunning 3.4-litre V6-powered Cologne Capris, which made the most sublime noise.

Top of the RS500 pack was a fabulous performance from David Tomlin, running his RS500 for the first time since he rolled it during pre-season testing at Donington Park back in March. Just about every panel had been replaced and the car was only just ready in time for the Silverstone weekend. Tomlin,

The Classic always provides great racing for Ford fans

S I LV E R S TO N E C L A S S I C Paul Mensley and Matthew Ellis fitted a replacement gearbox the day before qualifying. Sadly, the car retired with electrical issues

who also rallies a modern Ford Fiesta R5 and a historic Group 4 Escort Mk2, revelled in conditions more akin to a rally stage to bag pole position from the RS500 of Paul Mensley and Matthew Ellis.

Mensley was fortunate to be on the grid at all because his RS500 broke its gearbox after one lap of testing on Thursday. His godfather just happens to be fellow RS500 racer Mark Wright, who had a freshly-prepared RS500 racer sitting in his workshop in Leicestershire.

Mensley fetched that car so that he could borrow the gearbox and get his own car ready for qualifying. But he was a bit concerned as a new ‘box comes in at the expensive side of £10,000, so he didn’t want to break this one.

Wright and Coyne duly put Wright’s regular car third on the grid while sixth best, behind two Skylines, was the ex-Andy Rouse RS500 of Julian Thomas/Calum Lockie. Aside from a run up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, this was the car’s first run of 2021 as business commitments limit Thomas’s time for racing.

Steve Dance, planning to race solo, was next up in the first of the glorious Cologne Capris before two father-and-son pairings in RS500s. Sean Brown, who’s been having a great season, had son Daniel alongside, while Grahame and James Dodd were sharing their ex-Guy Edwards Kaliber-liveried car. This one went to the Bathurst race in Australia at the end of the 1989 season and then spent many years in a museum. Finally back in the UK, this was its first race for many years and came after oil dramas that thwarted a planned

debut earlier in the season.

Craig Davies and touring car legend Steve Soper wrapped up the top ten in the Brooklyn-liveried RS500 before the Capris of Adrian Willmott/Mark Farmer and Richard Kent/Chris Ward rounded an amazing top 12.

Come Sunday morning and race time, the track was as wet as ever. Could the Ford pack fend off the four-wheel-drive Godzillas in such horrible conditions?

Yes was the emphatic answer, after 20 laps and 50 minutes of slipping and sliding.

Although Tomlin was out of the traps like a startled rabbit to head the early laps, his car didn’t last, and he joined Mensley and the Browns on the retirement list.

Instead, it was Wright who set a scorching pace to cut through the spray and the gloom to take a big lead; he went as long as permitted before handing over to Coyne, who finished the job with a 50-second margin over Dance, who turned in one of the drives of the race. At the flag, the Capri was being hunted down by Soper in the Brooklyn car and the gap was down to three seconds.

“Dave told me to keep it calm at the beginning and we played a patient game,” said Wright of the winning strategy.

Dance was delighted to get his Capri among the RS500 pack: “It’s a bit lively in those conditions, so I’m made up with that result.”

Meanwhile, Soper reckoned, “I’ve started to learn how to drive them again.”

It had been an epic contest in the toughest of conditions, and was a satisfyingly clear victory for Ford over Nissan.

Mark Wright and David Coyne proved the RS500 is still a race-winner, scooping victory at The Classic

Steve Soper is starting to find his groove again in an RS500, which is bad news for the rest of the drivers

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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FORDS IN MOTORSPORT

MUSTANG WINS IN GT4

The Academy Motorsport team bounce back from disappointment earlier in the season with fantastic results at Spa and Snetterton Words MIKE RYSIECKI Photos LEIGH JONES

J

ust as we had predicted in our last British GT Championship report, Academy Motorsport have cast out their demons, allowing drivers Matt Cowley and Will Moore to really stake their claim on the top step of the GT4 podium.

Ever calm and professional, even under duress, the team were rewarded with a series of satisfying results, starting with the championship’s annual visit to Belgium’s spectacular Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Spa is familiar ground for the team and driver Will Moore, but this was the first visit for Matt Cowley. He soon had the circuit mastered, and despite the low visibility, 76 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

was fastest by three-quarters of a second in his qualifying group. Spa is known as a horsepower track, and the Mustang was particularly strong in the middle sector, which helped Will and Matt to achieve a fourth-place GT4 finish – third in the Silver Cup category. This was despite having had to serve a pit lane drive-through penalty after Will inadvertently exceeded the car’s allowance of track-limits transgressions during his stint.

Matt came out on top of a tight scrap by escaping from a strong group, which included the Century team’s BMW M4 GT4 and Steller’s Audi R8 LMS GT4.

The next stop on the calendar was

Snetterton for the first of the season’s double sprint races. This is a track that does the Mustang no favours, but after collecting their first meaningful points of the season at Spa, Academy weren’t hampered by any success penalties either.

Will put the Ford Mustang third on the grid for Sunday’s opening race, just a tenth down on one of the BMWs, and two tenths clear of Team Rocket RJN’s #2 McLaren. Matt managed to bring the Mustang home in sixth, which could have been much higher had he not been elbowed out by the wider GT3 Bentley in traffic.

Sunday’s second, 60-minute sprint race started late in the day but was worth the wait.

Will and Matt excelled in difficult conditions to grab the first British GT victory of the year for Academy Motorsport and Ford after both drivers contributed to a superb recovery following an early off.

Matt had steered his way clean and clear of an early GT4 incident and, once the order worked out after the resulting caution period, was in a comfortable third position.

Just before the pit window opened he had a moment, dropping the Mustang back to sixth.

But an almighty in-lap for a very timely pit stop, which avoided a brief rain shower, presented Will with the opportunity to showcase his drifting skills. On a drying track and rapidly fading rain tyres, he reeled in the

BRITISH GT The Academy Motorsport Mustang enjoyed good results at Spa and Snetterton

Will More demonstrated a wet -weather master-class as he took victory at Snetterton

lead McLaren, slid past and thrilled spectators with a masterful demonstration of wetweather car control for the remaining laps of the race.

So as not to distract him during those final laps, the team decided not to tell Will that he was leading. “I didn’t ask, either,” he said after the race, “I suspected that I was in the lead but didn’t want to know in case I made a mistake.

On the drying track our front tyres were gone, so the only way was to throw the car into the corners and get it sideways.”

Teammate Matt concurred that, “The Mustang does slide about quite a bit but it’s nice and easy and you can catch it. It’s the quickest way through the corner at that point – letting it slide about on the power.”

Matt summed up the win for the team: “We just needed to catch a break, which happened here today. The team did a mega job and everything went right for us. We didn’t get involved in anyone else’s incidents. All the external factors thankfully stayed away from us this weekend and let us get on with what we do best”.

The championship moves on to Oulton Park for two more sprint races in September, before October’s endurance finale at Donington. The team will have to serve a pit-stop success time penalty in the next race, but the Mustang has previously proven its performance at both upcoming tracks.

The Mustang is right back in the thick of it as the GT4 series heads into the final rounds in the coming weeks

RACE RESULTS

Spa – fourth in GT4 class, third in Silver Cup Snetterton – Race 1: sixth in GT4, fifth in Silver Cup Snetterton – Race 2: first in GT4, first in Silver Cup British GT Championship position – fifth in GT4, third in GT4 Silver Cup

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

77

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01268 724585

FORDS IN MOTORSPORT

B TC C

Ollie fought his way through the pack at Oulton Park

Jake was flying in Race 2 at Knockhill

POINTS HAULS

Strong results at Oulton Park and Knockhill keep the MB Motorsport Focus BTCC cars in the mix for the second half of the season Words JAMIE & MB MOTORSPORT Photos BTCC.NET

O

llie Jackson wasted little time in ascending the order as the lights went green at Oulton Park, climbing seven places on the opening lap alone. Unfortunately, a five-second time penalty hampered his progress. Not one to hang about, Ollie once again made a lightning restart after a red flag, to move up four places into P12 with teammate Jake Hill just ahead in P8.

Both drivers made superb starts once again for the second race, climbing to P4 and P8 on the first lap. Jake began to challenge for the podium places, but Ollie was unfortunately collected in an incident at the Fosters hairpin, ending his race.

Jake held off a stern charge from behind, while keeping his eye on the podium battle just ahead. A valiant effort saw him hold on to claim P4 at the chequered flag.

The final race of the day saw Jake starting from P6 on the grid following the reverse-grid draw and Ollie down in P26 after his earlier retirement. A chain of events led to another multi-car accident, with Ollie performing

admirably to avoid the carnage as much as possible. The race restarted with yet more drama as reigning champion Ash Sutton found himself spun round on the exit of Old Hall, forcing Jake to take avoiding action and dropping him to P8.

A tidy move put Jake back into P7 and in hot pursuit of the leading six ahead of him, but the red flag was once again shown for a heavy crash and the result declared; Jake secured P7 while Ollie rounded out the day in P17.

The BTCC circus then headed north to Knockhill, with Jake and Ollie starting the first race in P5 and P17 respectively after a hardfought qualifying session.

The opening exchanges of the race saw Jake fend off Sutton and keep hold of P5 while a fast-starting Ollie quickly climbed two places into P15 before unfortunately being forced into retirement. Jake battled hard with Sutton and Aiden Moffat to hold on to a P6 finish.

An early safety car neutralised the second race on the opening lap, but Jake had already managed to pass into P5 and wasted little time making his move after the restart,

quickly finding his way up to P3. After another safety car period, Jake’s second restart was compromised by a back-marker, causing him to lose time to the leaders ahead, but he was able to hang on to claim another visit to the podium and score more valuable points.

A tremendous start from both cars in the third race of the day saw Jake rising to P5 off the line and Ollie once again proved the race’s biggest mover, gaining five positions on the opening lap alone.

But it wasn’t to be Jake’s day; with the top six running together in a close pack, he was forced to take to the gravel and subsequently dropped down the order. An issue then brought the Focus into the pit lane and into an early retirement.

For Ollie, a strong performance in the final race rewarded him with a well-deserved points finish in P15.

The BTCC now moves to Thruxton where the Focuses performed well earlier in the season, so we’re all hoping for some good results next time out to keep the Fords in the Championship hunt.

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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FORDS IN MOTORSPORT

WRC Rising star Adrien Fourmaux was sadly forced to retire after an off in Belgium

Despite a difficult start, Greensmith battled on to finish the rally

TOUGH TIMES IN WRC

Gus Greensmith battles to the finish in Belgium despite a difficult start to the rally Words M-SPORT & JAMIE Photos M-SPORT

R

allying can be a cruel mistress.

When things go right, the elation is indescribable. But powering through such treacherous terrain at breakneck speeds is fraught with dangers, and it’s all too easy for things to go wrong, with any chance of victory quickly snatched away before you’ve really had a chance to get going.

Unfortunately, at the recent Ypres Rally, it was M-Sport’s turn to endure one of those difficult weekends.

Gus Greensmith and Adrien Fourmaux showed early promise in the WRC cars as Belgium’s classic Ypres Rally debuted as a round of the World Rally Championship, but were forced to retire both Fiestas after going off the road. Their team-mate Teemu Suninen 80 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

The Ypres rally featured the iconic Eau Rouge corner at Spa

starred in the WRC2 class, but an incident left his Fiesta with a damaged radiator, a problem that would eventually lead to the car being retired from the event.

On a high-speed section of the 23.6km Kemmelberg stage, Fourmaux’s car was thrown off line by surface dirt and launched into a dizzying series of three pirouettes through the air, coming to rest against a lamp post. Both driver and co-driver emerged unhurt, but there was substantial damage to their Fiesta WRC, which brought an end to their rally.

Greensmith made a measured start to the weekend, but his rally was also to be interrupted; barely 200 metres into the 9.4km Zonnebeke stage, the Englishman slid off the road into one of the deep and unforgiving

ditches that line the roads as the route twists through the Flanders farmland.

Unlike Fourmaux, Greensmith was able to restart the rally, and after two days spent in the undulating farmland around Flanders, the rally moved to the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit. There, in blazing sunshine, the crews had to tackle the celebrated flat-out challenge of the Eau Rouge, a gravel section, and the local roads around the home of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Greensmith acquitted himself admirably and settled in to ensure that he maintained his position in seventh until the finish.

The M-Sport team now prepares to take on the toughest gravel event in Europe – the Acropolis Rally in Greece on 9-12 September. Update in next issue.

FF TEC H

10 M I N U T E T E C H

ADDITIVES

Miracle potion, or pure snake oil? We talk to the experts at LIQUI MOLY to find out more about the wide ran e of additives available for your fast Ford

WHAT ARE ADDITIVES?

The best way to think of additives is as vitamins for your car; it won’t work properly without them. And you’re already using them, whether you know it or not.

Even simple mineral engine oils – which no longer come close to meeting the requirements of today’s motors – contain as much as 15 per cent additives. More modern engine oils, including fully synthetic varieties, are often as much as 30 per cent additives.

Also, every time you fill your car up with fuel, you’re adding additives; modern fuels are packed with additives in order to increase the knock resistance of petrol, or to make diesel less sensitive to below zero temperatures.

At LIQUI MOLY we offer a range of further additives to use with oil, fuel, or coolant systems, all of which offer different characteristics to produce the desired result.

Ѱ FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

WHAT DO THEY DO?

A good quality additive will supplement your engine’s health and can be very useful for performance and modified cars. At LIQUI MOLY, we never say our additives are miracle potions that will magically fix a broken engine – they won’t, none will.

But what our additives can do, and do very well, is work alongside a healthy engine to maintain optimum performance, prevent future problems from occurring, and in some cases improve performance too.

They are fantastic chemical tools to have in your arsenal. We have products that will reduce the frictional loses of an engine, while others will rejuvenate rubber seals to prevent them drying out, perishing, and leaking. Think of them as you would hand tools – you need to select the correct tool for the job, and LIQUI MOLY has a full range of additives available to choose from.

WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADDITIVES ARE THERE?

LIQUI MOLY produces an enormous range of additives, and we’re always developing new products too. But there are three main categories: coolant, fuel, and oil.

Our coolant additives comprise of Radiator Cleaner and Radiator Stop Leak; both are self-explanatory.

We also produce 14 different oil additives for the car market. These range from performance and protectionenhancing products such as Cera Tec (a high-tech ceramic wear protection that helps reduce friction too), to various cleaners designed to flush the system of any old deposits and sludge during oil changes, to those specifically designed to reduce the noise of hydraulic lifters/tappets.

The biggest category, though, is fuel additives – which can be further divided into petrol, diesel, and LPG-fuelled engines. LIQUI MOLY’s fuel additives have an outstanding cleaning effect, remove deposits and protect against corrosion, and help stabilise the fuel and protect against aging and oxidation. Our product range covers everything from simple lead replacements for older vehicles, right through to full fuel system treatments for modern engines. Oh, and we have a couple of octane boosters for those who want extra performance too.

L I Q U I M O LY A D V E R T O R I A L A D D I T I V E S

HAVE ADDITIVES CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

Yes, very much so. As engine technology is constantly (and rapidly) changing, so too does the need for new additives. As we said earlier, you should think of additives as chemical tools, so if someone changes the size of the nut and bolt, we need to change the spanner we use too. Therefore, we make sure our products are always up to date and safe to use on the latest engine technology.

On top of that, LIQUI MOLY has also developed additives specifically for new engines and the issues they might face. Perhaps the best example of this is the new wave of hybrid cars on the market; hybrid vehicles often have very low fuel consumption – and in many cases can now run on fully electric for shorter trips too – which can result in the fuel being operated when cold, the engine is started and stopped frequently, and the fuel remains in the tank for a much longer period. We have developed additives specifically to combat this.

Another example, perhaps more pertinent to modern performance car owners, is the issue of LSPI – low speed pre-ignition. It’s a new phenomenon seen on direct-injection engines, and while the industry doesn’t fully understand what causes it yet, we do know that fuel and oil plays a huge part. Therefore, LIQUI MOLY’s DFI Cleaner, which has an excellent cleaning effect in the fuel system as well as excellent piston and combustion chamber cleanliness, has been shown to considerably reduce the risk of LSPI from occurring.

WHY SHOULD I USE ADDITIVES?

Additives can protect your engine, reduce your fuel consumption and save cash. Our oil additives clean the motor from the inside, minimize friction and wear, reduce oil consumption and protect against corrosion. Our fuel additives keep the entire fuel system clean and guarantee optimum combustion and compression and can even help reduce the risk of things like LSPI too.

WHAT ADDITIVES WOULD YOU MOST RECOMMEND FOR PERFORMANCE CARS?

It all depends on what you’re looking to achieve and how you use the car, but our most popular choices for performance cars tends to be our Engine Flush and Cera Tec additives. This a great combo; the Engine Flush is used at every oil change to keep oil system clean and the pistons rings free and unclogged – the fresh oil then enters a clean engine and can deliver its full performance. Cera Tec will reduce friction in the engine, which in-turn increases the effective power output. On top of that, it protects the engine even under severe load, and greatly improves the emergency running properties in case of any oil loss.

On the fuel side of things, we’d recommend our Octane Booster (does exactly what it says on the tin) and Speed Tec, which improves combustion and delivers better acceleration, especially at partial load.

HOW EASY ARE ADDITIVES TO USE?

Most of the time it’s simply a case of pouring it in to your car’s engine, fuel tank, or cooling system – simple as that.

WHO ARE LIQUI MOLY?

LIQUI MOLY is a German-based company specialising in oils, lubricants and additives. The company’s focus is strongly on quality, because it does not want to be the cheapest but strives to be the best. LIQUI MOLY produces its oils and additives exclusively in Germany, and offers a huge product range: over 4000 items involving automotive chemicals. As well as oils and additives. LIQUI MOLY also offers car care, underbody protection, service products such as brake cleaners and rust solvents, as well as a series of professional tools and cleaners.

For details on the full range of products, and for a handy guide to find the correct oil for your car, head to the website. www.liqui-moly.com

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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FF TEC H

BUYER’S GUIDE

`jb%)j ƗƗlj Now that Ford’s pulled the plug on the Mondeo, the 2002-to-2007 ST220 rei ns supreme as the best, the fastest and the final fast Ford family saloon. Here’s how to buy a car that combines V6 grunt with perfect poise, luxury equipment and rapidly increasing rarity Words DAN WILLIAMSON

WHY YOU WANT ONE…

Q Ford will never again build a machine like this: normally-aspirated V6 petrol power and sublime handling in a big, family-car package.

Q If you’re looking for practicality, the ST220 takes some beating – the saloon and hatchback have massive boots, and the estate’s load space is truly cavernous.

Q Anyone in the know appreciates the ST220 as a genuine driver’s car with a fabulous chassis – and as they’re becoming rare, their value should rise higher than the running costs.

WHY YOU DON’T…

Q Mondeo Man infamy still lingers from the autocracy of Tony Blair, and it’s unlikely the ST220 will ever recover from an undeserved image of mundanity.

Q Running costs can be extortionate for the performance on offer, with low-20s to the gallon being common, and jaw-dropping road tax for late-model ST220s.

Q Still lingering in banger territory means many ST220s are poorly serviced, riddled with niggles, badly modified and in the process of rotting away. Extra stickers don’t make a cure.

HOW MUCH TO PAY

PROJECT: £750 TO £1500

There’s no such thing as a cheap ST220 – unless you’re in it for the long haul. Breakers with blown engines and slipping clutches are inexpensive to buy but costly to fix. If you want something useable, spend a little more…

GOOD: £1500 TO £3000

A decent ST220 shouldn’t break the bank, but beware of rust and aim to keep mileage below 150k. Shop around for your preference of bodystyle, colour and cabin. Don’t worry about pre-/post-facelift but beware of fewer gadgets.

CONCOURS: £3000 TO £5000

Condition and mileage are becoming more important than age, specification and colour scheme, although such factors do affect the value. Sub-30,000-mile ST220s will easily exceed £5000, but are few and far between.

Ѳ FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

IDENTITY

Check the VIN number on the V5 logbook matches the sticker on the driver’s-side B-pillar, numbers stamped into the bulkhead (behind the plenum chamber) and VIN visible through the windscreen on the nearside. If possible, plug a code reader into the OBD port and confirm the chassis number is identical.

As always, an identity report is vital to ensure your ST220 isn’t recorded as stolen or written off, or subject to outstanding finance.

ST220s aren’t really faked, but it’s worth checking the spec tallies with the year: original ST220s (until June 2003) were fitted with a five-cog MTX75 gearbox, whereas facelifted versions had a six-speed MMT6; six-speed cars also feature the updated fascia layout rather than piano-black trim. Post-2003 ST220s have a remappable ECU and standard cruise control (rare on early cars).

Remember that all ST220s are expensive to run, but cars registered after March 2006 are in a higher road tax bracket, costing significantly more each year.

As always, if you see a Mondeo with cloth trim, single exhaust pipe, noisy engine, and unrefined ride/ LERHPMRK ɄMXŭW ER 78 TDCi. There’s no such thing as an ST220 diesel.

VITAL STATISTICS MADE 2002 to 2007 PRICE WHEN NEW £21,745 POWER 223bhp @ 6250rpm TORQUE 203lb.ft @ 4900rpm TOP SPEED 151mph (five-speed), 155mph (six-speed) 0-62MPH 6.8 seconds (five-speed), 7.6 seconds (six-speed)

B U Y E R ’ S G U I D E M O N D E O S T 220

INTERIOR

Mondeo cabins wear pretty well, but their age means many have rattly trim and squeaky plastic. Wind noise from the rear window seals is very common.

Leather upholstery was standard, and ZIV] HYVEFPI ũɄFYX I\TIGX XS WII [IEV SR the driver’s seat bolster. It can by dyed very easily by a DIYer. Black has tended to be the most popular shade, but Infra Red leather has become sought-after.

Early ST220s had a piano-black fascia, replaced in June 2003 by an updated dashboard; such facelifted cars were IUYMTTIH [MXL E WM\ WTIIH KIEVFS\ ERH more standard kit, including auto wipers and lights, cruise control, multi-position electric seat adjustment and variableposition seat heaters. Desirable options also became available, including sat nav and Bluetooth.

ST220s gained red stitching on the leather from 2005, and alcantara seat MRWIVXW [IVI SJJIVIH EX I\XVE GSWX )\TIGX to pay more cash for this cabin.

Spend less if the interior is badly scuffed, especially if there’s an IRS logo on the speedometer – a telltale sign of XLI 78 FIMRK ER I\ GST GEV ST220s had loads of electrical goodies, so make sure they all work; LIEXIH WIEX TEHW EVI JMHHP] XS JM\ LIEXIH [MRHWGVIIRW I\LMFMX HSHK] IPIQIRXW

GSWXP] XS VITPEGI WM\ HMWG LIEH YRMXW become problematic, and central locking motors break – but are fortunately the same as other Mk3 Mondeos.

HISTORY

OCTOBER 2000

Ford Mondeo Mk3 introduced, built at Genk, Belgium, featuring new platform, choice of saloon, hatchback or estate bodystyles and variety of petrol and diesel powerplants, including 168bhp 2.5-litre Duratec V6.

JANUARY 2002

Check for cruise control buttons

Pre-production ST220s assembled for evaluation.

Cabin is very durable

FEBRUARY 2002

Mondeo ST220 begins production at Genk with 223bhp Duratec ST engine and MTX75 five-speed KIEVFS\ 7EPSSR LEXGLFEGO and estate are offered, with wider front wheelarches, deep bumpers, lowered suspension, 18in alloys, piano-black fascia, Recaro seats, and choice of WM\ I\XIVMSV GSPSYVW ERH XLVII shades of leather.

2 JUNE 2003

Facelift fascia

Heated leather Recaros were standard

“Ford will never again build a machine like this: normallyaspirated V6 petrol power and sublime handling in a family-car package”

First facelift with five-speed KIEVFS\ VITPEGIH F] 118 (YVEWLMJX WM\ WTIIH WMRKPI JIIH EMVFS\ VITPEGMRK HYEP inlet, revised ECU, new fascia, redesigned rear lights and additional equipment included as standard.

JUNE 2005

Final facelift includes chrome I\XIVMSV XVMQ TPYW VIH MRXIVMSV stitching and optional alcantara seat centres.

5 MARCH 2007

Mondeo Mk4 enters massproduction at Genk, replacing Mk3. No further performanceorientated Mondeo will ever be produced.

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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FF TEC H

ENGINE

All-alloy American-built Duratec-ST is well-made but complex and crammed a little too snugly into the Mondeo’s engine bay. Terminal failure has killed many ST220s.

Servicing is due at 12,500 miles but the V6 Duratec runs on timing chains, which last the life of the engine; if you hear a chain rattling, it often signals the end of the engine’s life.

Listen for knocking noises – which if they’re from the bottom end simply aren’t worth the risk.

Ticking could come from camshaft bearing caps or belt tensioners (relatively minor fixes) but big issues may be lurking.

Exhaust smoke is a major warning sign, with white pointing to head gasket and/or cylinder head problems, or blue suggesting a worn-out engine.

Head gasket failure often results in misfires, so don’t trust a seller claiming their ST220 just needs a coil pack or spark plugs (albeit the rear three are tricky to change).

The airflow meter, throttle position sensor,

TECH SPEC

MONDEO ST220 ENGINE 2967cc 24-valve V6 DOHC Duratec-ST (MEBA) with alloy cylinder block and heads, 10:1 compression ratio, chain drive, multi-point fuel injection system, Black-Oak ECU (revised in June 2003), twin stainless exhausts TRANSMISSION Front-wheel drive with MTX75 five-speed manual gearbox or (from June 2003) Getrag MMT6 Durashift six-speed manual gearbox, 240mm clutch and dual-mass flywheel SUSPENSION Front: MacPherson struts, uprated dampers, 15mm lowered coil springs, anti-roll bar; rear: Quadralink independent suspension with anti-roll bar and 15mm lowered coil springs (saloon/hatchback) or independent short-long arm with anti-roll bar and lowered coil springs (estate) BRAKES Front: 300mm ventilated discs; rear: 280mm solid discs; ABS with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) WHEELS & TYRES 7.5x18in 16-spoke alloys and 225/40R18 tyres EXTERIOR Mondeo four-door saloon, fivedoor hatchback or five-door estate with bodywork extensions including honeycomb grilles, flared front wheelarches, sports front and rear bumpers, side skirts and rear spoiler, body-coloured door handles and tailgate/ boot lid handle. Facelift in June 2003 including rear lights (saloon and hatch), rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps and puddle lights, plus (from June 2005) chrome grille surround, revised side skirts, rear lights and chrome door handles. Metallic paint in Ink Blue, State Blue, Infra Red, Machine Silver, Magnum Grey, Panther Black, Stardust Silver, Sea Grey, Performance Blue (at extra cost) or non-metallic Diamond White (police). Optional rear parking sensors, rear privacy glass, xenon headlamps, electric sunroof, Technology Pack (xenon headlights and privacy glass) INTERIOR Recaro heated front seats in Ebony Black, Infra Red, Graphite or Light Flint leather with matching rear seat (leather with alcantara inserts available from mid-August 2005), leather-rimmed steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake handle (with red stitching from 2005), climate control, six-disc CD head unit.

Facelift in June 2003 including revised fascia and standard cruise control. Optional heated rear seat, stereo upgrades including DVD, sat nav, Bluetooth and rear-seat audio, Family Pack (dog guard and rear-seat audio system)

86 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

perished vacuum hoses, fuel system or ECU may also be to blame for misfires, rough idling, poor performance and high fuel consumption; a full diagnosis is crucial but won’t necessarily identify the cause. It could get costly.

Oil leaks are similarly awkward to solve. Most ST220s have gunge around the front exhaust manifold – usually dripped from the filler neck when being topped up – but grubby timing chain covers and sump need further investigation.

Fuel pump failure is common at around 100,000 miles, which means dropping the tank to replace it; bodgers cut a hole in the floor instead, confirmed by looking beneath the back seat.

Coolant leaks can be catastrophic, so check the condition of the hoses for splits or holes. The V6 is tight under the bonnet, causing pipes and wires to chafe. Inspect the loom around the battery, bulkhead and alternator, which can cause chaos with the smart-charging system. The alternator is especially prone to failure thanks to its proximity

to the rear exhaust manifold/cat. Early signs of impending shut-down are the battery light glowing on the dashboard, followed by the air conditioning and stereo ceasing to work.

Examine the cooling fans too, which are prone to seizing. Check them by ensuring they run when the air conditioning is switched on.

B U Y E R ’ S G U I D E M O N D E O S T 220

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES

TRANSMISSION

Two types of gearbox were available with the 78 YRXMP .YRI MX [EW *SVHŭW 18< five-speed manual, after which it was the Getrag 118 (YVEWLMJX WM\ WTIIH 8LI IEVPMIV GEV LEH E slicker gearshift, dual airbox intakes and quicker acceleration; the six-speed boasted better economy, higher top speed, improved ECU and a facelifted fascia.

Both ’boxes are strong, and neither should cause trouble, but the clutch is a different matter, usually requiring replacement before 100,000 miles. On the rest drive, check for slip by leaving it in fourth and ensuing the road speed increases with the engine revs; ensure all the gears engage without baulking.

Beware of vibrations felt through the clutch TIHEP [EVRMRK SJ (1* HYEP QEWW JP][LIIP JEMPYVI 8LI 78 ŭW (1* MWRŭX EW TVSRI XS JEMPMRK EW XLI HMIWIP TS[IVIH 1SRHISŭW FYX MX [MPP [IEV out eventually, meaning an expensive repair.

Even a tired ST220 should feel fine behind the wheel, but if it doesn’t feel precise, there’s something wrong.

ST220 front suspension is based on the Jaguar X-Type 3.0; vague handling could be caused by a dry steering column bush, worn anti-roll bar bushes (which are inherently weak) or poor wheel alignment ũ 1SRHISW EVI TEVXMGYPEVP] WIRWMXMZI ũ VIWYPXMRK MR excessive wear to the 225/40R18 rubber.

ST220 rear suspension is shared with the VIKYPEV 1SRHIS WS WEPSSRW ERH LEXGLFEGOW QYRGL through subframe bushes, leading to clonking and sloppiness at the rear; polyurethane replacements are advisable.

ST220 estates have the Jaguar X-Type setup, which doesn’t eat bushes but needs the rear arms checking for distortion from careless jacking. ;LIIP FIEVMRKW EVI E GSQQSR TVSFPIQ ũ PMWXIR for rumbling – while front wishbones, ball joints and suspension links may be worn; use X-Type replacements. Rear wheel bearings are standard 1SRHIS TEVXW Wheels themselves are often tatty, with lacquer peeling away from the stock diamond-cut finish and corrosion taking hold. Refurbishment is a pro job, but repainting or powder-coating is a simple cure.

Don’t be surprised to feel juddering from the front brakes – it will need new discs and pads, which EVI GLIET ERH GLIIVJYP WXSGO 1O QQ ZIRXIH JVSRXW ERH QQ WSPMH VIEVW 1ER] 78 W LEZI thankfully been upgraded to Focus ST225 front 320mm discs, callipers and carriers, which make a massive improvement.

78 VIEV FVEOIW I\LMFMX GSQQSR 1SRHIS complaints of seized callipers, particularly on pre-2004 models. Jack up the back to see if the wheels spin freely with and without the handbrake engaged; the cause is likely to be the handbrake mechanism on the calliper, although stretched cables and sticking pistons are sometimes to blame. Replacement callipers are cheap.

ABS sensors sometimes fail, causing the warning light to glow on the dashboard.

They’re inexpensive and easy to replace.

Look out for lacquer peel

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO INSURE?

It’s just a family car with an oversized engine, so the insurance group of 33 is relatively high. Even so, the lowest premiums are usually found via high-street brokers and online comparison sites.

WHERE DO I FIND ONE?

ST220s on their last stop before being broken for spares can be found on eBay and Facebook. Better examples are also generally in private hands, while backstreet dealers sometimes advertise ST220s on Auto Trader and the like. Concours cars occasionally crop up with specialist traders for big money.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RUN?

Well, er, that’s the downside. You’ll be lucky to average 25mpg, some parts are pricey, and road tax is high (currently £340) ũɄ[SVWI WXMPP JSV 78 W VIKMWXIVIH EJXIV 1EVGL [LMGL EVI MR E LMKLIV VSEH XE\ bracket (£585).

WILL VALUES RISE OR FALL?

They’re already rising, albeit steadily.

As rusty and non-running ST220s are gradually confined to the scrapyard, prices SJ XMH] GEVW FYGO XLI XVIRH SJ 1SRHISW being ignored by Ford collectors.

SHOULD I MODIFY IT?

Yes, but keep it tasteful. Big family cars don’t lend themselves to being adorned with motorsport graphics or too much bling, but every stock ST220 should sit a little lower to the tarmac.

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

Ƚ

FF TEC H

Late-spec added extra chrome and badges

EXTERIOR

KEY POINTS

ENGINE

Nasty noises, smoke or misfires are a major warning of a hefty bill coming your way.

OVERALL CONDITION

Some ST220s have been cosseted, while many have been run on the cheap. Beware of poor cosmetic mods, rattly interiors, lack of servicing, and budget tyres.

TRANSMISSION

Run away from any ST220 with clutch slip. Vibrations from a knackered DMF may be more costly still.

EXTERIOR

Corrosion can be a killer. Check the door bottoms, sills, inner arches, rear wheelarches and tailgate.

ELECTRICS

Beware of dashboard warning lights. A knackered alternator is very bad news, and could cost loads of cash to replace.

WHAT WE SAY

JAMIE, EDITOR:

“I miss my old ST220 estate.

Yes it may have been a thirsty ol’ brute, and no it wasn’t as fast as my Focus, but it was a fantastic all-rounder; comfortable, quick enough to put a smile on your face, fully loaded and, that V6 makes a truly gorgeous noise.

“I’d own another in a heartbeat, and with all the rotters slowly being broken up for spares, the remaining good ‘uns are sure to see prices rise in the near future. I doubt they’ll ever reach RS money, but as an appreciating modern classic that can be used and enjoyed, it’s hard to beat. ”

88 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

Rust is the enemy. Even when relatively new, many ST220s were repaired and repainted under warranty due to bodywork corrosion.

Pre-2005 Mondeos suffer most around the door bottoms where the flanges trap moisture. Wheelarches also suffer, as do sills behind the side skirts. Inspect the bonnet edges, inner wings (inside and out), tailgate, beneath the fuel cap, around the windscreen and back lights.

Rear bumpers tend to sag on saloons and hatchbacks, but they’re easily fixed with new foam supports to replace those that are missing or broken.

Choice of bodystyle is personal preference, and makes little difference to price. Saloons are a tad stiffer, estates are immensely practical (and traditionally most expensive), and hatchbacks sit in the middle as being more common.

Colour used to affect values, but today it’s preferable to buy on condition instead of spec. Still, Performance Blue remains popular, and some owners prefer the post-

A respectable badge – to those in the know

2005 chrome trim. Look out for desirable options such as xenon headlamps and (rare) electric sunroof.

Reversing sensors were also available, but tend to play up or need regular cleaning; headlamp washer jets suffer the same fate.

Washer covers go missing, but non-genuine replacements cost pennies to buy, if not to paint the proper colour.

Look out for white ST220s, which were usually purchased by police forces (among other colours, especially silver). Rare yes, but these Mondeos led very hard lives, and ex-police cars generally have plenty of damaged bodywork, scratches and filler.

CONTACTS

DAN WILLIAMSON, CONTRIBUTOR: “Uhm, well, the ST220 looks lovely, has fabulous Recaros, a great engine note, slick gearchange, and handles beautifully on road and track.

“The thing is, I bought an ST220 estate 14 years ago, and it’s the most unreliable car I’ve ever owned.

It ate its clutch, the doors rusted, it needed a new engine at five years old, and I swapped the ECU – but even with a remap it was slow. I had to retrofit cruise-control and ST225 brakes, it did 22mpg, and needed an alternator every year. Eventually, I left it in a barn – but, strangely, I still like it.”

ST220 ENTHUSIASTS

st220enthusiasts.club

MONDEO ST OWNERS’ CLUB

www.mondeostoc.com

ST DRIVERS

www.stdrivers.co.uk

FORD OWNERS’ CLUB

www.fordownersclub.com

3L DURATEC PERFORMANCE www.3lduratec.com

BURTON POWER

www.burtonpower.com

FA S T F O R D T R I LO GY

Paul Harrison won a stunning EsCos in a dream car giveaway, completing his perfect trilogy of fast-road and track-day fast Fords Ѵѵ FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

Words and photos JON CASS

C

an you imagine being able to buy an Escort Cosworth for less than £50? You’d be lucky to get a scale model for that price these days, but lucky Paul Harrison managed to bag this stunning Radiant Red example by entering a dream car competition on the internet – and it cost him just £49.72.

Paul, who is a self-confessed Ford fan, also happens to own a neatly converted Fiesta track car, while his daily driver is a tuned Mk2 Focus RS. As dream garages go, he seems to be on a winner.

Paul tells us, “It was my dad who got me hooked on Fords. He was always working on Cortinas and the like in his garage, and I became enthralled watching him.”

Aged 17, Paul passed his driving test and purchased the first Blue Oval of his own, in the shape of a Cortina 1.6XL automatic.

“I wasn’t too impressed with the auto gearbox, so with the help of my dad, we

converted it to a manual,” Paul says. A string of other Cortinas followed, before a Capri 3.0 GT, along with several XR2s and XR3s.

Paul says, “My goal was to own a Sierra Cosworth, and fortunately I managed to obtain one. Sadly, the experience was only too brief as I had to sell it when we moved house.”

After the Sierra, Paul made a return to hot hatches in the shape of a Mk2 Focus ST. He says, “I had the ST for quite a while, but I was eager to make a return to a car with an RS badge on it. In 2015 I bought this Focus RS, which was totally standard at the time.”

And that’s how Paul intended to keep the RS – just as it left the factory – but as we know, things can soon change.

“I started to notice adverts for upgrades, which got me thinking; it began with just a decat pipe and then I thought I may as well swap the exhaust to a Mongoose system with 3in downpipe too,” Paul recalls.

The mods soon began to snowball,

THE LUCKY WINNER IS…

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

Ѵȭ

FA S T F O R D T R I LO GY

Dream car. Given away

Water injection was plumbed in

TECH SPEC

ESCORT COSWORTH

Stock cloth cabin is complemented by a few subtle mods

1993cc Cosworth YBT, Autronic SM4 engine management mapped by MA developments, MA inlet cam, vernier pulleys, Aquamist water injection, Garrett GT3071R turbo, Mongoose exhaust, new engine loom with slimline fans, Spec-R intercooler, coil pack conversion, 200 block with lightened and balanced crank, Mahle pistons, ported and polished head, 2WD exhaust manifold, 1000cc injectors, extended driveshafts, Bara-built gearbox with Quaife bigtooth gear set, strengthened front diff housing, AP Racing six-paddle hydraulic clutch, B&M short shifter, Koni adjustable dampers, poly bushes all round, AP Racing big brake kit, 18in Azev A alloys, 225/40x18 Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, 480bhp

YB was breathed on by Mark Shead of MAD to kick out 480bhp

DRIVER SPEC

PAUL HARRISON FIRST FORD Cortina XL TRACK DAY OR SHOW & SHINE? Track day WRC OR BTCC? Both LESSONS LEARNT FROM THIS PROJECT? “Follow your dreams” WHAT’S NEXT “Enjoy all three cars” THANKS “To my wife for putting up with my expensive hobby, my son-in-law Dean for help with mods over the last ten years, and Dream Car Giveaways for the opportunity to own my dream car”

92 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

and a Stage 2 map by Collins Performance, along with an Airtec stage 2 intercooler, took the power up to 400bhp. The Focus was now more fun to drive, but Paul felt the engine bay failed to do the Focus justice, so he had the covers hydro-dipped and added chrome detailing to brighten up the bay. He also fitted an Airtec plenum, Powerflex engine mounts and a K&N Group A filter for good measure.

Paul was always savvy, and kept his eyes open for bargains whenever one presented itself: “I managed to source the K-Sport brakes for £500, which was a real bargain,” he grins.

Attention then moved on to the suspension, where Eibach springs lower the ride height by a subtle yet effective 25mm, while a summit front strut brace stiffens things up and looks the part under the bonnet.

Paul says, “I use this car every day as my main vehicle – even in the snow it gets driven, which can be quite interesting.”

Despite year-round use, Paul does his best to keep the car in tip-top condition, and he’s planning a front end respray to freshen it up.

The Focus gets used daily but it doesn’t get driven on track; Paul has a Fiesta just for that.

We used to see a lot of Mk5 Fiesta track cars, but they’re few and far between these days.

Paul was on the hunt for one in 2015, and found this example on an internet site.

He remembers, “The car was down in Redditch, so I placed a bid, as the specification looked ideal. Foolishly, I entered the wrong amount when I bid, and I was gutted when I didn’t win the auction.”

In desperation, Paul contacted the vendor and explained his situation, requesting a second-chance offer if the deal fell through.

As luck would have it, the deal collapsed and Paul was offered the car, much to his delight.

These days, Mk6 and Mk7 Fiestas tend to be favoured for track action, but the earlier Mk5 is still a capable performer. Paul says, “When I picked the car up, I fell in love with

the sound of the Jenvey throttle bodies – the whole conversion has been well thought out.”

At the heart, there’s a 1.7-litre Puma engine, which combined with the Jenveys, Kent cams, Mocal oil cooler and an Omex 600 ECU, means this featherweight Fiesta pushes out a respectable and utterly dependable 171bhp.

AVO coilovers, limited-slip diff and poly bushes enhance the handling, while OZ Superleggera alloys suit the aggressive track look. And there’s no hiding this Fiesta’s intentions as a circuit toy; polycarbonate windows help keep the weight down, while Sparco seats and harnesses, a full roll cage and quick-release OMP steering wheel are all useful and practical track-day upgrades.

Paul points out, “A few areas needed tidying up; it was missing door cards, I’ve

“When I saw this Escort Cosworth on offer, I couldn’t resist buying a few tickets... I was actually on the toilet when I was told I’d won via a live phone call. I had to tell them I was at work...”

Hydro-dipped covers around Airtec plenum

Stage 2 RS snowballed into a meaty daily driver

TECH SPEC

FOCUS RS 2522cc Duratec I5 turbo, de-cat, Mongoose exhaust with 3in downpipe, Stage 2 Airtec intercooler, Collins Stage 2 remap, hydro-dipped engine covers, K&N Group A-style air filter, Airtec inlet plenum, Powerflex engine mounts, M66 six-speed with Quaife ATB, Eibach 25mm lowering springs, Summit upper front strut brace, K-Sport big brake kit, Performance Blue, Anthracite alloys, Triple RS lowline kit

Paul’s had his Mk2 for six years and counting...

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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FA S T F O R D T R I LO GY

Track hack – buckets of fun

Retro tiger stripes highlight Paul’s track ride Jenvey bodies trumpet the arrival of this Pumapowered terror

Omex ECU stands alone

TECH SPEC

FIESTA ZETEC S 1679cc Puma conversion, Jenvey throttle bodies, LSD, Kent cams, Mocal oil cooler, Omex 600 ECU, push-button start, AVO coilovers, polyurethane bushes, strut brace, 15in OZ Superleggera alloys, polycarbonate windows, tiger stripes, Sparco seats and harnesses, OMP steering wheel, roll cage, flocked dash, Puma clocks, 171bhp

added carpeting in the rear, and had the dash flocked. Then, I couldn’t resist adding the oldschool tiger stripes, which help set the car off.”

As you’d expect, this Zetec S is a blast to drive and Paul uses it on track whenever he has the time. “I attend Ford Fair every year and always book at least three track sessions with this car. It seems to create a lot of attention and goes well for such an innocent looking old Fiesta,” Paul says.

Not quite so meek and mild is Paul’s dream car – the Escort RS Cosworth – which coincidentally came into his possession thanks to a competition he won, hosted by Dream Car Giveaways.

Much of the time, these popular prize cars are sold on within weeks of the competition being won, or, worse still, crashed and plastered all over social media within a few days of the winner collecting the car.

Rarely do you get to meet the lucky person who won the competition, and even rarer are they a dedicated fan who entered because they genuinely wanted to own the car on offer. Paul is one of that minority.

“I’d entered a few similar competitions before, without success. When I saw this Escort Cosworth on offer, I couldn’t resist buying a few tickets,” he remembers.

Totalling just shy of £50, Paul placed his 94 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

bets and then proceeded to forget about the draw altogether, thinking nothing would come of it.

“I was actually sat on the toilet when I was told I’d won via a live phone call. I had to tell them I was at work and not where I really was,” Paul laughs.

The credit for this car goes to its previous owner, John Evans, who modified it for road rallying some years ago; in fact, it made an appearance in this very mag way back in 1996 when it was just a few years old.

The Cosworth engine has been specified with no expense spared, based around a new 200 block with lightened and balanced crank, Mahle pistons and a ported cylinder head.

The Garrett GT3071R turbo, Autronic SM4 engine management, 1000cc injectors and MA Developments inlet cam all add up to a whopping 480bhp with 465lb.ft of torque.

Cooling is aided by a Spec R intercooler, along with Aquamist water injection, controlled via the Autronic engine management, which has been expertly mapped by Mark Shead at MA Developments.

The transmission has been beefed up to match the extra power too, with a Bara Motorsport-built MT75 gearbox now boasting Quaife big-tooth gears. Meanwhile, a strengthened front diff housing and an AP

Racing six-paddle clutch means none of that power and torque goes to waste.

“John obviously knew his stuff. It seems he’s gone through the whole car and has managed to overcome any weak points,” Paul smiles.

As you’d expect, John wasn’t going to leave the chassis components standard, and he opted for Koni adjustable shocks with poly bushes. Motorsport-spec AP Racing callipers dramatically improve the stopping power.

We’ve seen Escort Cosworths on many different styles of wheels over the years, but you can’t go wrong with a set of timeless 18in Azev As; they suit the Radiant Red paintwork perfectly. Other than the pillar-mounted Nomad boost gauge, the interior remains as Ford intended – even the original radio and separate CD player remain in place.

Paul is naturally over the moon with his £50 Escort Cosworth, and struggled to contain his excitement – as would any one of us in such a fortuitous position.

Paul confesses, “I won’t be driving the Escort too often, it will be kept in cotton wool most of the time and just used occasionally.

Hopefully I’ll be taking it to the big summer shows, though.”

That’s if he decides to leave his Fiesta at home and miss out on the track action, but at least it’s a nice choice to have.

FOR ALL YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS CONTACT NATALIE HARMAN 01732 446757

NATALIE.HARMAN@TALKMEDIASALES.CO.UK

MOTORFREE ADS TO ADVERTISE VISIT

CURRENT LISTINGS FORD ESCORT

FORD FOCUS

FORD FIESTA

1996, 52700 miles, £2,000. Escort 1.6v. Great condition, been in the family since 1996. MoT to December 2021. New tyres, sunroof, cassette player, a nineties classic. Truly sad to sell. Please call 07944 221266, Greater London.

108065

2006, 36000 miles, £5,750. Fiesta ST with a genuine 36000 miles from new. This car is immaculate and must be as good as they come.

We have the current V5 and some old MOTS but no service book. Please call 01875 820527, Scotland. (T) 109917

2019, 29523 miles, £13,800. Ford Focus Zetec Ecoblue, 1499cc, diesel, manual, 120 2019 on 19 reg, grey, electric windows, radio, seats are in perfect condition. Floor in perfect condition, inside and outside car in immaculate condition. This car really is like brand new. Service history, drives perfect, lovely little car, Satellite Navigation, Bluetooth, Alloy Wheels, Air Conditioning, Metallic Paint, Connectivity / USB, Heated Front W/S, Cruise Control, Privacy Glass, Automatic Lights, DAB. Key start. Please call 07810198894 , Greater London.

109017

FORD FIESTA

FORD FIESTA

FORD MONDEO

1990, 28000 miles, £12,995. An unmodified XR2i with just 28,000 miles and just one owner since 8 months old. Please call 07711645465, South East. (T)

2008, 47000 miles, £4,250. Fiesta ST150 Colorado Red. Low mileage, full service history, 4 previous owners, totally standard, 2 keys, HPI clear, MOT until March 2022. Excellent example.

Please call 07702552601, Yorkshire and the Humber.

109789

109147

TO ADVERTISE VISIT:

2007, 79150 miles, £4,500. POA. Two owners Mondeo ST TDCI, 2.2 diesel, very tidy for it’s age.

Full history from Ford, just serviced. Replaced battery, replaced axillary belt and tensioners. Four new tyres, both rear springs. Interior is very tidy.

Electric windows, folding mirrors, parktronic that works, welcome lights on the mirrors, half-leather seats, new floor mats, Sony 6-CD radio system.

Metallic black. Please call 07852 885518, East Midlands.

109294

OR EMAIL:

FORGOTTEN FORDS

Straight-eight engine was to be transverse-mounted with a T-Drive system sending power to all four wheels

FORGOTTEN FORDS T H E B L U E O V A L S Y O U ’ V E ( P R O B A B LY ) N E V E R H E A R D O F…

This month we look at the Contour Concept from 1991, with its transverse-mounted straight-eight engine and four-wheel drive

T

he Contour may well have become the American version of the Mondeo, but that’s not what the name was originally given to. Back in the early 90s Ford developed a concept car to be shown at the 1991 Detroit Motor Show – the Contour Concept. And the name couldn’t have been more appropriate as there wasn’t a single flat panel on the car!

The Contour also featured a very unusual engine configuration – a straight-eight! And it was transversely-mounted... and then mated to a 4x4 transmission too!

And when you look closely things start to get even weirder. For example, all the ancillaries such as the water pump, power steering and so on, were all electrical. In fact, the only thing driven by the crankshaft was a large, single alternator.

Another odd design tweak was that the huge straight-eight motor wasn’t fed any cooling air from the front of the car, but instead through the sides. In an attempt to improve aerodynamics, the front of the car doesn’t feature any grilles to allow cooling air to pass through; instead the engine is cooled by air coming from ventilated wheel wells!

The transmission was a weird setup too. It was called the T-Drive, and used a permanent all-wheel drive system. As it was hooked up to a transversely mounted, eight cylinder engine, there wasn’t the room to fit a traditional gearbox with a flywheel as you would normally. Instead, the T-Drive system is driven directly by a gear in the middle of the crankshaft. This allows a propshaft to run to the rear diff, and power to be delivered to the front wheels too.

The suspension saw another radical redesign, and utilised transverse leaf springs, which also acted as the upper control arms.

While the Contour was technically possible, it would become nothing more than a radical concept design, but Ford obviously quite like the name so resurrected it for what we, in Europe, would know as the Mk2 Mondeo.

OCTOBER 2021 FAST FORD

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INSIDE THE NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE… ■ Next month we’re celebrating 25 years of the ST models! Yes, it’s hard to believe that it was a quarter of a century ago that we first saw the Sports Technologies logo appear on the back of a Blue Oval – the Mondeo ST24 – so we thought we’d celebrate the landmark and look back at the full and exciting story of the ST Fords. We look at the history of the brand and offer buying and tuning advice as part of our 132-page special issue.

■ We couldn’t very well run an ST special issue without an ST on the cover, and next month we’ve got a very special ST indeed. We actually first saw this car appear in the mag’s project pages many years ago when it was undergoing it;s first round of upgrades. Since then, Airtec’s formidable Fiesta has evolved into a lightweight, wide-arch, 400bhp monster of a machine!

■ Also, we’ve got a full feature on Malcolm Wilson’s 1993 Swedish rally-winning Group A Escort Cosworth!

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*Planned editorial content at time of printing. Actual editorial content of the next issue may be subject to change

98 FAST FORD OCTOBER 2021

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