Ford said its motorsport division engineers have accelerated the development of the Fiesta RS WRC the model that will compete in the 2011 edition of the WRC championship.

Ford officials announced that their engineers have accelerated the development of the Fiesta WRC version for the 2011 edition of the championship. Ford engineers were forced to do so just days after the approval of new regulations for engines introduced in the FIA WRC. Thus, the FIA World Council decided to introduce a 1.6 liter turbocharged engine, which can be developed based on an existing engine in the range that the automaker or developed separately to be in compliance with new regulations. This decision was preceded by an announcement made last year which said that the new category in the WRC 2011 season will be based on S2000 regulations.

Ford Fiesta RS WRC is a replacement for Focus RS World Rally Car, which debuted in 1999 and won 42 awards during his career. The model managed to win the constructor’s title in 2006 and 2007 and 121 consecutive races were completed in points by Focus RS WRC, a record that dates back to early season 2002.

Fiesta RS WRC will be based on the Fiesta S2000 model, which was launched in 2009 and won his debut race in which he participated – the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. Besides the new engine, Ford will make a series of changes to the look of the Fiesta RS WRC to make the model more attractive for spectators and more close to the Fiesta’s street version.

Via: Ford | Foto: Ford Fiesta S2000 IRC