what is the difference in WRC focuses

can anyone tell me what the difference was between the two WRC ford focus rally cars shown in this poster? Where can i get a car description for these two on the net?

http://images.fotopic.net/ybgp0k.jpg

welshie

Just how much detail are you after?

Generally, the middle, Martini sponsored, car is a 2001 colourscheme and the "Performance Blue" bottom one was a 2002 colourscheme, although it did appear in RallyGB in these colours in 2001 driven by Mark Higgins. A good place for (small) reference shots of which colours were used where is
http://www.zone.ee/focushistory/index.html
As for detail changes, WRC cars evolve all the time. It's not clear whether the blue car is a 2001 or 2002 car.

FordRallye.com

Thanks for that mate, the blue car has been rendered in the martin/parks driver crew and looking at that site it looks like a number of drivers drove it but the foremetioned crew drove it in 2002. Was this a works ford car and if so why were there two totally different paint jobs? Looking to get a detailed specifications guide on the 2002 car? Know of anywhere

The top car is the road going version of the focus RS

welshie

In 2001 there was also a Perf Blue car as third driver in the works team, that poster shows two variants on the 2001 Focus as competed in 2001.

For detailed specification try these books:
Pirelli World Rallying 25 (2002 - Martin Holmes)
Rallycourse 2002-2003

It was a "works" car, but more than likely the Martini money only stretched to two entries (McRae and Sainz) so either Ford or Markko Martin paid money for another entry by the works team.

It was a "works" car, but more than likely the Martini money only stretched to two entries (McRae and Sainz) so either Ford or Markko Martin paid money for another entry by the works team.


The Perf blue Focus in 2001 did actually carry the Martini logo, it was in the advertising on the door.
The car was a development crew car which was run to give up and coming drivers experience at WRC level, it was still a full works drive though.

In 2001 there was also a Perf Blue car as third driver in the works team, that poster shows two variants on the 2001 Focus as competed in 2001.

Actually the blue one is the 2002 one as the driver is Markko Martin (he didn't drive for Ford in '01).

One more thing - the RS Focus on that poster should be of exactly the same colour as the 2002 WRC car

http://www.zone.ee/focushistory/index.html


Thanks for the link!

Interesting to trace the history of X3 FMC. According to that website, it started life in the works Martini colours and did one event with Carlos, then was repainted white with blue RS logos and driven by Delecour, then became the first imperial blue WRC focus to be used by Higgins (all that in 2001!) and then it spent 2002 in the OMV livery and was driven by Stohl. Cool :sunglasse

Actually the blue one is the 2002 one as the driver is Markko Martin (he didn't drive for Ford in '01).

One more thing - the RS Focus on that poster should be of exactly the same colour as the 2002 WRC car

Quite right, Markko was driving for Subaru in 2001 alongside Petter and Richard.

I couldn't make out the driver's names on the PC I was viewing AF from at lunch time, but now I can I see it is a Markko car which would place it at best, as an early 2002.

I couldn't make out the driver's names on the PC I was viewing AF from at lunch time, but now I can I see it is a Markko car which would place it at best, as an early 2002.

Judging by the fact that it's blue and by the door rally number backing, I'd say San Remo.

The white one puzzles me, though. Clearly a 2001 scheme (blue areas on the fron bumper for one), but nr 5, which Colin used in '00 but not in '01 as Colin and Carlos drove nr4 and nr3 cars respectively throughout the year.

the middle one is definately the 00 car. One can tell from the number square- similar liveries both years, chaneg majorly in 02

I think the number 5 is on the Martini focus because I believe this version didn't run in WRC. I'm sure this was just made for the sponsors benefit to show off at events etc.

2000 ford had the martini focus w/ that livery McRae was in car 5

The differences between the cars drawn on the poster are simply the paintjob. Those pics don't look to be really accurate, but it is hard to tell at the low resolution.

The middle car is a 2001 livery (red ribbons up the sides and onto the roof) but as Alex mentioned appears to have RAC 2000 number 5 rally plate on the door. It also has tarmac wheels, not likely on that era RAC Rally. The Martin "Performance Blue" side view appears as a tarmac car too (2002 San Remo or just a promotional plate?) but is not a late 2002 spec car, which I'm pretty sure is the only kind Markko drove on tarmac events in the Blue RS livery.

So a bit of a mish-mash all things considered.

Just because the car has the ribbons does not mean it is the 2001 car- here pictures of the 2000 focus in Acropolis: note the martini and ribbons and the number 5 for colin http://elpa.acropolisrally.gr/00/images/winners47.jpg

Just because the car has the ribbons does not mean it is the 2001 car- here pictures of the 2000 focus in Acropolis: note the martini and ribbons and the number 5 for colin
http://elpa.acropolisrally.gr/00/images/winners47.jpghttp://images.fotopic.net/ybgp0k.jpg

Look closer at the poster and your pic and you will see what I am referring to. In particular the roof. Of course there are lots of other ques confirming the poster car is intended to represent a 2001 livery (i.e. blue front bumper, Pirelli logo, Martini flash on the roof intake, etc)

fair call- i'd say the only solid evidence would be the difference in sponser on the roof scoop

Another thing I just remembered. Throughout most of 2001 the third Focus was run in a white RS livery, driven by François Delecour. It was only on a couple of rallies (Sweden and RAC) that Mark Higgins drove the blue version. Remember in those days manufacturers were able to nominate three cars for points.

For the first half of 2002 Martin ran in a Martini livery the same as Sainz and McRae. Usually a spec or so behind them. Wasn't until the Acropolis that he changed to the Blue and coincidentally started being more competitive.

Liveries are 2001 however the cars as drawn are actually 2000. Check out the front bumper. The side vent was not on cars in 2001/2002

Yeah I think the artist has just used the road car front bumper, lazy sod! :)