1.
Jari-Matti Latvala
–
Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland and he is well known for his aggressive driving style, which earns him many plaudits, and comparisons to the late Colin McRae. With 17 event victories in the WRC, he is the most successful driver to not have won a championship. Latvala began driving when he was eight years old, after receiving a Ford Escort from his father Jari Latvala, at the age of ten, Latvala started practicing with an Opel Ascona on a frozen lake. Latvalas first world rally was the 2002 Rally Great Britain at the age of 17 and he finished in 17th position with a Mitsubish Lancer Evolution VI. In 2004, Latvala mostly competed with an S1600 class Junior World Rally Championship car and his best overall result in the World Rally Championship was 21st with a Group N Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the Tour de Corse. In the 2005 season, Latvala competed in nine world rallies, six with the Group N Impreza and three with a World Rally Car. His best overall result was 16th, which he managed three times, at the Swedish Rally with a Toyota Corolla WRC and at the Tour de Corse, in 2006, Latvala competed in 11 world rallies. He drove the Subaru Impreza WRX STI in six, a Ford Focus WRC in four and a Toyota Corolla WRC at his home event and his best results came in the last three rallies. At the Telstra Rally Australia, he won the Production Car World Rally Championship class, at the Propecia Rally New Zealand, he finished eighth overall and also won the PCWRC. With the Focus WRC, he recorded his career-best result by finishing fourth at the last event of the season, points from these rallies then placed Latvala 13th overall in the drivers championship. In 2007, Latvala competed a full 16-event programme for Stobart M-Sport Ford with Matthew Wilson and he started the season with retirements in Monte Carlo and Sweden. At the Rally Norway, Latvala was in contention for his first podium place and he did, however, take his first stage win on SS5. Latvala later took his first podium at the 2007 Rally Ireland, in 2008, Latvala joined Fords factory team as a number two driver, partnering Mikko Hirvonen and replacing Marcus Grönholm who had announced his retirement from the WRC at the end of 2007. Latvala continued to fight and was ninth overall before SS12, but he made another mistake there and heavily damaged the front left suspension in his Focus, forcing himself to retire for good. He later had some problems and wasnt the fastest on any of the remaining stages, the 22-year-old therefore took his first WRC win to become the youngest winner in the history of the World Rally Championship. The previous record was held by Henri Toivonen who was 24 years and 86 days old when he won the 1980 RAC Rally, for his performance during the Swedish rally Latvala was given the Abu Dhabi Spirit Of The Rally award. Unfortunately for the young Finn, the turbo in his Ford Focus was malfunctioning during the second day, making his car uncompetitive
2.
2010 Rally Finland
–
The 2010 Neste Oil Rally Finland was the 60th Rally Finland and the eighth round of the 2010 World Rally Championship season. The rally took place over July 29–31, and is based in Jyväskylä, the rally was also the fifth round of the Production World Rally Championship and the sixth round of the Super 2000 World Rally Championship. Per-Gunnar Andersson also claimed an overall point, as he finished second in class, one of the selections for the Pirelli Star Driver and a protégé of former WRC driver Markko Märtin, Ott Tänak claimed victory in the PWRC, on his first appearance in the class this season
3.
Ford World Rally Team
–
The Ford World Rally Team, also known as the Ford Motor Co. Team prior to 2005, is Ford Motor Companys full factory World Rally Championship team, the new team took their first victory in the 1997 Acropolis Rally. Ford had a long and successful history in rallying, winning the World Rally Championship in 1979 with the Ford Escort RS1800 and drivers Hannu Mikkola, Björn Waldegård and Ari Vatanen. Ford did not officially enter any cars for these seasons after winning the 1979 World Rally Championship season, they instead concentrated on development of the stillborn Ford Escort RS 1700T. However, Ari Vatanen did win the 1981 drivers championship in a Rothmans liveried Ford Escort RS, this was run by David Sutton Cars, and not an official works Ford World Rally team. Lessons learned from the RS 1700T programme were being used in the development of Fords new rally weapon, the RS200, having spent time away from the sport developing the Ghia styled RS200, Ford made a return to the World Rallying stage at the second round in Sweden. Fords new RS200 featured four-wheel drive, a turbocharged Cosworth BDT engine generating 450 bhp, Ford employed the services of Swedish drivers Stig Blomqvist and Kalle Grundel, but they would each only be entered on four rallies, in a season overshadowed with tragedy. The Sierra RS Cosworth proved to be far more successful in comparison, it would not win during 1987, the car debuted on the Safari Rally, again driven by Stig Blomqvist, but would retire following a fire, its next outing would be on the island of Corsica. Blomqvist would again retire with turbo failure, but his teammates Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol would fare much better, Ford would finish the season with 2nd and 3rd places for Blomqvist and Jimmy McRae, again against more capable rival machinery. The services of Stig Blomqvist, Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol were retained from 1987, each driver being entered on the rallies in Portugal, Finland, Blomqvist would also be entered for Round 2 in Rally Sweden, whilst Sainz and Auriol were entered in Corsica. A three car team of Blomqvist, Sainz and Mark Lovell were entered for the season closing Lombard RAC Rally. Blomqvist kicked off Fords season with 2nd place on his round in a Rallysport Sweden prepared Sierra XR4x4, the best result for the 4WD Ford. The Ford Sierra RS Cosworth would return for Round 3 in Portugal, and Blomqvist would use it to finish in 5th place, but only after Sainz and Auriol had both retired from the event. Sainz would collect points for 5th in Corsica and then 6th in Finland, another rally where Auriol would finish on the podium, Ford would finish the season 2nd behind Lancia in the Manufacturers Championship, with a total of 79 points. Three cars were entered in Corsica, a Q8 liveried car for Gianfranco Cunico, a yellow Sound 2000 sponsored car for Mark Lovell, Lovell would retire after suffering from a misfire, Baroni would retire after an accident, and Cunico would go on to finish 7th overall. The Italian driver would suffer the mis-fortune of retiring after an accident on his second Ford outing in Great Britain, Ford would finish 13th in the Manufacturers standings after scoring just six points for the season. Results over the past few seasons had proved one thing, in order to return to winning ways Ford would need a powerful, turbocharged car with 4WD capabilities. The 3-door Sierra RS Cosworth was no longer being sold by Ford, so they instead utilised the new Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 4-door saloon model and he was now joined by Pentti Airikkala and Malcolm Wilson who had been team mates at the Rothmans Rally Team 10 years previously
4.
Ford of Europe
–
Ford of Europe AG is a subsidiary company of Ford Motor Company founded in 1967 with headquarters in Cologne, Germany. Ford of Europe was founded in 1967 on the merger of the British, the process took several years to complete, as new model ranges arrived and the older model ranges were gradually phased out. The first new model launched after the creation of Ford of Europe was the Escort, built in England from October 1967 and it was first available as a two-door saloon and later in estate, van and four-door saloon bodystyles. Power came from 950 cc,1100 cc and 1300 cc petrol engines, later there was also a 2000 cc unit which came in the RS2000 performance version and was capable of 110 mph. It quickly became popular with buyers, outselling in the UK key competitors from BMC, Vauxhall, the Escort would never achieve such dominance in Europes largest auto market, but nevertheless took significant market share from the Opel and Volkswagen competitors of the time. Ford Europes second new car launch was the Capri sporting coupé at the beginning of 1969, august 1970 saw the launch of the British Ford Cortina Mk III and its German cousin, the Taunus. By 1972 the Cortina was the car in Britain. It quickly outsold its rivals in many countries and in 1973 was the tenth best-selling car in Britain, like the Capri and Cortina/Taunus models, the early Consuls and Granadas were built in both Britain and Germany, each with a unique range of national engines. A revised Capri II arrived in early 1974, which saw a hatchback replacing the traditional boot and this was the first time that Ford had produced a car with a hatchback, adopting this new concept which had first been patented by Renault in the mid 1960s. Ford launched a Ford Escort at the start of 1975, with a heavily restyled exterior and more spacious interior, the entry-level 950 cc engine, which was rare in any country, was discontinued. In 1975, Ford overtook British Leyland as the most popular make of car in the United Kingdom,1976 saw Ford Europe enter the mini-car market with its first ever front wheel drive model. The Fiesta MK1 was built at the companys new Valencia plant in Spain, from 1981, it was available with a 1600 cc unit for the sporty XR2 version. It would remain in production until 1982, as the last product in the Ford Europe range to different model names on different markets. Ford launched the Mk II Granada range in September 1977, in 1976, all Granada production had been concentrated to Cologne, Germany. The Consul badge was abandoned in 1975, the Mk III Capri sporting coupé arrived in 1978. By now Capri production was concentrated at Cologne. 1980 saw one of the most important car launches in Fords history, the MK3 Escort went on sale across Britain and Europe in October, with its ultra-modern styling and updated front-wheel drive mechanical layout. It was also available as a hatchback for the first time, the 2000 cc engine was dropped, and the range-topping Escort was now the XR3 which came with a fuel-injected 1600 cc unit
5.
M-Sport
–
M-Sport is an auto racing team based at Dovenby Hall near Cockermouth, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom. Formed in 1979 by the former WRC driver Malcolm Wilson, and originally known as Malcolm Wilson Motorsport, formed in 1979 under the name Malcolm Wilson Motorsport, the company was originally next door to Wilsons house near Cockermouth. In 1994, the team won titles in Italy, Portugal, the Middle East. At the end of 1996, Ford Motorsport selected the company to spearhead the Ford teams entry for the 1997 World Rally Championship season with the new derivative of the Ford Escort WRC, the start of the 1997 WRC season also saw the name change to M-Sport. Victories in Greece and Indonesia saw faith in the team rewarded. By the middle of 1998, Ford chose M-Sport to design, the new car appeared in 1999 with a new driver — Colin McRae — and immediately sprang to the attention of the world press by recording fastest stage times on its first event, the Monte Carlo Rally. However, the two cars entered were excluded from the event due to the use of a modified water pump. By the third event — the Safari Rally in Kenya — the team had scored its first WRC victory, a month later, an on-form Colin McRae made it two in a row at the Rally of Portugal. With a move to new premises at Dovenby Hall, M-Sport expanded rapidly, in 2006, the Wilson-led Ford team took the manufacturers World Rally championship title, it was the first time Ford had achieved this feat in 25 years of competing. For the 2008 season, the company employed the talents of Mikko Hirvonen. The 2009 season saw Mikko Hirvonen and Citroens Sébastien Loeb fight a closely fought throughout the year which ended with Loeb the victor by just one point. Beside the official Ford cars, the also ran two cars on behalf of the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team. Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg were the two competing in 2010. On occasions, a car was run with a guest driver. Argentinian team Munchis Ford World Rally Team also entrusts the preparation, the driver running for the team in the 2010 WRC season was Federico Villagra. For the 2010 season, M-Sport ran a Ford Focus RS WRC08 for Ken Block on behalf of the Monster World Rally Team, at the beginning of 2009 Ford with M-Sport started work on a S2000 rally version of the new Ford Fiesta. The new car, designed by Christian Loriaux, was launched on 18 November 2009 at M-Sports headquarters, the car will made its public debut as a course car at the IRC Rally Scotland driven by Matthew Wilson. Ford did not run an entry in the 2010 IRC
6.
Ford Focus
–
The Ford Focus is a sedan car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company since 1998. Ford began sales of the Focus to Europe in July 1998, in Europe, North and South America, and South Africa, the Focus replaced the various versions of the Ford Escort and Ford Laser sold in those markets. In Asia and Australasia, it replaced the Ford Laser, in designing the Ford Focus, a group of young designers used whats called the Third Age Suit in order to simulate the physical limitations of an elderly person. The suit, which restricts the movements, allowed for insights that were implemented into the cars design. Ford of Europe introduced the Focus in 1998 to the European market as a replacement for the Ford Escort. The decision to name the new car the Ford Focus was made in early 1998 and this eleventh hour dispute was resolved, however, and the car was launched with the name Focus. The Focus MK1 was awarded the 1999 European Car of the Year award, the Fusion name was eventually used on two different vehicle families - a utility version of the Fiesta in Europe, and on a mid-size sedan model in North America. Ford of North America began marketing the Focus in September 1999 for the 2000 model year as a surprise Christmas present for Fords CEO Jacques Nasser, the car was launched as a three-door hatchback, four-door sedan and five-door wagon, a five-door hatchback debuted in 2001. In 2002, Ford launched its highest performance version of the Focus and this original Focus RS was only available in Europe. Ford was said not to concern about losing money on the Focus so the company could sell gas guzzlers for big profits. Many industry insiders also view cars like the Focus as compliance cars because of their role in helping to bring down the fleet average fuel economy to meet current fuel-economy standards. The basic suspension design, which contributed much to the Mk 1s success, was carried over unchanged from its predecessor. Along with a 10 percent stiffer bodyshell, according to Ford this offers a better ride, the same body styles as the Mk 1 Focus were offered, though the saloon did not appear until mid-2005. A two-door coupé-cabriolet with a hardtop was added to the line-up in 2007. The Focus Mk 4 is larger and considerably heavier than its predecessor, it has a 25 mm increase in wheelbase, as a result, the interior and boot space have increased. New technologies include a KeyFree system, a windshield, adaptive front lighting, Bluetooth hands-free phones and voice control for audio, telephone. Stylistically, the Mk 2 features the design language found in the Mondeo. Although still recognisable as a Focus, the new car uses styling features from the abandoned B-Proposal for the original Focus which never reached production, in 2005, Ford released a MK. II version of Fords sports division of Focus, the Focus ST
7.
Hatchback
–
A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger vs. cargo volume. Hatchbacks may feature two- or three-box design, while early examples of the body configuration can be traced to the 1930s, the Merriam-Webster dictionary dates the term itself to 1970. The hatchback body style has been marketed worldwide on cars ranging in size from superminis to small family cars, Hatchbacks may be described as three-door or five-door cars. A model range may include multiple configurations, as with the 2001–2007 Ford Focus which offered sedan, wagon, the models typically share a platform, drivetrain and bodywork forward of the A-pillar. Hatchbacks may have a rigid parcel shelf, liftable with the tailgate. Both station wagons and hatchbacks typically feature a two-box design configuration, with one shared, flexible, interior volume for passengers, further distinctions are highly variable, Pillars, Both configurations typically feature A, B & C pillars, station wagons more likely also feature a D pillar. Cargo volume, Station wagons prioritize passenger and cargo volume, with alongside the cargo volume. Cargo floor contour, Favoring cargo capacity, a station wagon may prioritize a fold-flat floor, seating, Station wagons have two or three rows of seats while hatchbacks have one or two rows of seats. Rear suspension, A station wagon may include reconfigured rear suspension for additional load capacity, Station wagons also have numerous tailgate configurations. Typically, a hatch or liftgate does not extend down to the bumper. You could have a 90-degree break in the back and have a station wagon, a liftback is a broad marketing term for a hatchback where the rear cargo door is more horizontal than vertical, with a sharply raked or fastback profile. In comparison with the hatchback the back opening area is sloped and longer and is lifted up to open. Liftback and fastback are often misused, a fastback is described as a hatchback where the rear cargo door flows down continuously from the roof of the car and most of the time is not as raked as the liftback. In 1946, DeSoto marketed the Suburban as a station wagon, in 1949, Kaiser-Frazer introduced the Vagabond and Traveler hatchbacks. Although these were styled much like the typical 1940s sedan, they incorporated an innovative split rear tailgate, folding rear seats, the design was neither fully a sedan nor a station wagon, but the folding rear seat provided for a large, 8-foot long interior cargo area. These Kaiser-Frazer models have described as America’s First Hatchback. In 1953, Aston Martin marketed the DB2 with a rear tailgate
8.
World Rally Championship
–
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The drivers world championship and manufacturers championship are separate championships. The series currently consists of 13 three-day events driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow, each rally is split into 15–25 special stages which are run against the clock on closed roads. The World Rally Car is the current car specification in the series and it evolved from Group A cars which replaced the banned Group B supercars. World Rally Cars are built on production 1, the production car, super 2000 and junior entrants race through the stages after the WRC drivers. The 1973 World Rally Championship was the season of the WRC. The first drivers championship was not awarded until 1979, although 1977 and 1978 seasons included an FIA Cup for Drivers, won by Italys Sandro Munari. Swedens Björn Waldegård became the first official champion, edging out Finlands Hannu Mikkola by one point. Fiat took the title with the Fiat 131 Abarth in 1977,1978 and 1980, Ford with its Escort RS1800 in 1979. Waldegård was followed by German Walter Röhrl and Finn Ari Vatanen as drivers world champions, the 1980s saw the rear-wheel-drive Group 2 and the more popular Group 4 cars be replaced by more powerful four-wheel-drive Group B cars. FISA legalized all-wheel-drive in 1979, but most manufacturers believed it was too complex to be successful, however, after Audi started entering Mikkola and the new four-wheel-drive Quattro in rallies for testing purposes with immediate success, other manufacturers started their all-wheel-drive projects. Group B regulations were introduced in the 1982, and with only a few restrictions allowed almost unlimited power, Audi took the constructors title in 1982 and 1984 and drivers title in 1983 and 1984. Audis French female driver Michèle Mouton came close to winning the title in 1982,1985 title seemed set to go to Vatanen and his Peugeot 205 T16 but a bad accident at the Rally Argentina left him to watch compatriot and team-mate Timo Salonen take the title instead. Italian Attilio Bettega had even a severe crash with his Lancia 037 at the Tour de Corse. However, the season took a dramatic turn. At the Rally Portugal, three spectators were killed and over 30 injured after Joaquim Santos lost control of his Ford RS200, at the Tour de Corse, championship favourite Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresto died in a fireball accident after plunging down a cliff. Only hours after the crash, Jean-Marie Balestre and the FISA decided to freeze the development of the Group B cars, more controversy followed when Peugeots Juha Kankkunen won the title after FIA annulled the results of the San Remo Rally, taking the title from fellow Finn Markku Alén. As the planned Group S was also cancelled, Group A regulations became the standard in the WRC until 1997, a separate Group A championship had been organized as part of the WRC already in 1986, with Swedens Kenneth Eriksson taking the title with a Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V
9.
Ford Team RS
–
The Ford TeamRS is Ford Motor Companys European performance car and motorsport division for Ford Racing activity. The Ford RS badge was born for rally racing, the RS stands for Rallye Sport, TeamRS is the successor to Ford Special Vehicle Engineering. TeamRS has been superseded by an organisation called Ford Performance. They are responsible for the conversion of the 2006 Ford GT from US-Spec to Euro-Spec
