WRC Manufacturers' Championship is a Win for Ford Brand -- On and Off Race Circuit
 

You guys might not think this is a big deal, but keep in mind this is the same chassis as the Mazda3...I think it speaks volumes for you guys cars too !!!

DEARBORN, Dec. 1, 2006 (FCN) -- With an insurmountable 25-point lead, and the Manufacturers Championship trophy already earned, the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car 06 goes into the final FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) event in Wales this weekend. Not only is it the first win for Ford in 27 years, it's the first time in the history of the sport that a new vehicle has won in its first season.



Driver Marcus Gronholm helped Ford secure the WRC Manufacturers' Championship with a win at the New Zealand rally.But the Manufacturers' trophy isn't just a win on the race circuit. As a result of its racing prominence, Ford also scores when it comes to marketing and getting the Ford brand in front of current and potential customers.

According to Jost Capito, director of Ford Team RS , the number of times the Blue Oval is seen on camera and the number of mentions during broadcasts justifies the investment in the WRC. He says rally fans know the car they see on TV is much like the car they can buy.

"Unlike the (NASCAR) cars in the United States, rally cars have much the same body and engines," he said. "The WRC fits very well into our marketing strategy to sell cars."

With up to 200,000 fans at each event, and another 802 million watching on television throughout the season, the fan base for the World Rally Championship continues to get bigger. International Sportsworld Communications (ISC) – which holds the commercial rights for WRC -- reports that the worldwide television audience grew by 44 percent between 2002 and 2005.

Not only did Ford's win come at the right time, the Focus RS WRC set a record for the company by winning seven out of the season's 15 events.

"We never imagined we'd be able to do this," said Capito. "At the most, we were hoping to win two rallies toward the end of the season and be fully competitive next year."

Unlike NASCAR and other forms of racing where the winner is the first car over the finish line, rally car teams race around the clock, leaving the starting line in one-minute intervals. Over the WRC's 11-month season in 16 countries and five continents, the vehicles are put through their paces on snow-covered mountain passes, gravel roads and smooth asphalt.

"Because you're not allowed to test overseas in the many locations, it usually takes at least a year to test your vehicles in various conditions, said Capito. "This victory means a great deal to our team, all Ford employees, Ford Motorsport fans and Ford performance vehicle enthusiasts worldwide who have given us amazing support."

John Fleming, president and CEO of Ford of Europe, recently explained the significance of rally racing for Ford

"First, it's a technology opportunity," Fleming said. "The Focus RS WRC is based on our highly acclaimed Focus ST. Our engineers in Merkenich helped with the development of the car's chassis and dynamics so there's a huge learning there in both directions. But there's also an emotional and motivational level. Ford has a rich heritage in racing, and the WRC gives us an opportunity to demonstrate a winning team."

Wow awesome. I'm such a sheep for marketing, that makes me want a Focus ST now, haha (if I could get one).
Can you buy the RS?

not in North America