Of all the big motor manufacturers involved in motor sport, Ford has the biggest commitment of all, covering events all the way from Formula One with the Stewart-Ford team and the World Rally Championship (the Ford Focus) to the revived Formula 1600.
The Ford Focus in the hands of Scotland's Colin McRae won the toughest event of all, the African Safari, in only the third rally for an all-new car. The next outing for the Focus will be in the Portuguese Rally from March 20th to the 24th, with two cars crewed by McRae and Nicky Grist, Norway's Peter Solberg and Belfast-born co-driver Fred Gallagher. Solberg finished a fine fifth on the Safari.
McRae was disqualified from third in the Monte Carlo Rally when his Focus was deemed to have a non-standard water pump. First championship points for Ford were scored by Thomas Radstrom and Gallagher finishing third on the Swedish. McRae then scored that sensational Safari win, finally breaking the stranglehold held on the previous six World Rally Championship rounds by Mitsubishi.
Top Mitsubishi driver Tommi Makinen (Finland) was disqualified from second on the Safari for receiving outside assistance in changing a wheel. For all that the triple champion with 20 points has a handsome lead of seven points over Toyota driver Didier Auriol (France) in the World Rally Championship, with McRae third with 10 points. With 11 events to run there could yet be dramatic changes to the scoreboard.
In the important manufacturers' championship Toyota lead with 23 points; Mitsubishi are second on 20 and Ford third with 17.
Meanwhile, the two new classes in Irish racing and rallying are looking good for an early April take off. To date nine cars have been bought from Mondello-based Racetec for the new Dunlop RT2000 Championship, the latest to join the action being Dublin businessman Des Cahill, managing director of Deecal International Ltd.
His car will be professionally run by Cliff Dempsey Racing. Cahill may only have limited racing experience, but could well be a dark horse under the tuition of Dempsey and expert backup.
Three veterans to watch are Gordon Kellett, John Keaney and George Crozier, who have a wealth of experience and success in saloon racing.
The RT2000 saloons are powered by Ford Zetec engines, same as the Crossle 9S sports cars racing in the new Crossle Championship. Ford power will also be to the fore in Irish racing, in Formula Zetec 1800 and Formula Kent 1600, and in Stryker sports cars. First race for the RT2000s will be at Mondello Park on Easter Monday, April 5th.
Up to a dozen crews will compete in the new Ford Ka Rally Championship, the first one make series in Irish rallying, and on target to become even more popular in providing very competitive cost-effective rallysport and encourage newcomers to the stages.
First round will be the Circuit of Kerry run out of Ardfert, near Tralee, on April 11th. This event is also round two of the RIAC/Red Mills National Rally Championship.
First round of the RIAC National Autocross Championship is the Birr MC event on Sunday.
