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Win a Three Day Pass to the 2008 World Rally Championship with Ford
2008 World Rally Championships
The 2008 FIA World Rally Manufacturers Trophy is within touching distance. There is an 11-point deficit to attack with 18 points available. So, can Ford retain the prized title for a third year running?
You can watch this exciting finale courtesy of Ford! We are offering a lucky reader the chance to win a pair of three day passes to the event.
You will also receive bed and breakfast to the fantastic St Davids Hotel & Spa - a great place to relax after watching the Rally!
Click here for more information on the St Davids Hotel
For your chance to win answer the question below
It's down to the power, strength and handling of the Ford Focus RS WRC and the abilities of the two nominated BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team crews. This Wales Rally GB should be as exciting as they come, as the outcome goes down to the wire on Sunday. Citroen's lead was more than halved in Japan, when Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen took first place followed by Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila, and Ford came away with the maximum 18 points. Sebastian Loeb and Daniel Elena's third place on top of their record five consecutive rally wins was enough to secure them the driver's title for the fifth year running, and all credit to them for that.
But just before we find out where the Manufacturers Trophy ends up, a familiar name enters the frame. Ford's legendary 'RS' moniker will return to the limelight as the highly-anticipated Focus RS will break cover for the first time in full-production guise to give those attending Rally Wales a glimpse of the future. Not only is it the 2009 model and the first new RS since 2002, it's Ford's fastest-ever European production car. Where better for the newest Rallye Sport car to roll out for the first time than in the Millennium Stadium on Saturday night, just before the climax of the WRC season?
New Focus RS Showcar 2008
The new Focus RS, which goes on sale early in the New Year, will spearhead a proud cavalcade of heritage RS cars. The earliest model, the 1970 Escort RS1600, was rallied successfully from its 1972 East African Safari victory onwards. The best-selling RS2000 would win more rallies than any other British car, including the 1979 WRC (it was the RS1800 that won the 1979 WRC). And, following years of touring triumphs, the mid-'90s RS Cosworth saw Ford back at rallying's summit, highlighted by victory at Monte Carlo in 1994. The 21st RS is a mouth-watering prospect, an exciting performer with outstanding roadholding abilities, and the rallying experiences of its predecessor have inevitably fed into its evolution.
The Focus RSs that are about to fight it out in the Welsh forests have 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged Duratec engines, whereas the new model has a 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine with unique camshafts, revised cylinder head and gasket, intake and manifold system. Power output is similar at 300PS, but torque is up from 440 to 550 Nm at 4000rpm. There is front-wheel as opposed to all-wheel drive; six-speed rather than five-speed transmission; a reduced weight penalty. The result is 0-62mph acceleration in under 6sec, and a targeted top speed of 161mph. Much else is new - from the Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential and innovative RevoKnuckle front-suspension system to the wider track, enhanced drive-shafts and rear anti-roll bar, revised springs and dampers, retuned steering and uprated brakes. But that black twin-blade rear spoiler had to stay.
CLOSING DATE: Monday 01st December 2008
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