The original Ford Focus was a groundbreaking vehicle. Highly praised and immensely popular, it demonstrated that Ford would be the leading force in the small car market in the new millennium. Ford's engineers were meticulous about how the Focus handled, and the outcome was so exceptional that it compelled competitors to elevate their game. Curious about why the Mk5 Golf drove so much better than the Mk4? This car was the catalyst. However, what truly made the Focus a favorite among enthusiasts was its involvement in rallying. Ford enlisted M-Sport to create an all-wheel drive, active-differential powerhouse for the World Rally Championship, and hired Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz to pilot it. In a recent video for Hagerty, the fortunate Henry Catchpole gets to experience an ex-Sainz Focus WRC and delves into what made this car so remarkable.
Although the first-generation Focus WRC never clinched a WRC title, McRae secured several memorable rally victories with the car, and Sainz added two more wins to the count. After McRae's departure from the WRC in 2003, Ford's new recruit, Marko Martin, managed five additional victories with this car. Similar to other WRC cars, the Focus was a technological marvel, featuring active center and front differentials, and a six-speed sequential transmission coupled with a distinctive short gear lever protruding from the steering column. Gunther Steiner, known for his work in F1, also played a key role in the car's development.
The Focus WRC also had a significant impact on the Focus RS road car, thanks to the efforts of Richard Parry-Jones. A Welshman and ardent rally enthusiast, Parry-Jones is credited with revitalizing Ford's product line in the 1990s and 2000s, with the Focus being his crowning achievement. Catchpole also drives a Focus RS road car, and while it might not be the best hot-hatch of its time, it serves as a reminder of what made the Focus so extraordinary. But the WRC car is a truly remarkable driving experience. It's powerful, nimble, and a perfect fusion of analog and digital elements. Much like the Mustang in the 1960s, the original Focus epitomizes Ford at its finest. The Focus didn't have as profound an impact in the U.S. as it did in the UK and Europe, but enthusiasts understand its significance. Unfortunately, finding a Focus SVT nowadays is quite challenging.
