Developed by M-Sport Poland in collaboration with Ford Performance, the 2019 Fiesta R2 is the latest evolution of the subcompact hatchback in the world of motorized sports. As the name suggests, the newcomer meets the R2 regulations of the Junior WRC Championship series.
Sharing little and few with the previous generation, the Fiesta R2 for the 2019 season takes its mojo from an EcoBoost three-cylinder turbo that displaces 1.0 liter. In this application, the engine is much obliged to send 200 horsepower and 214 pound-feet to the wheels by means of a Sadev five-speed sequential transmission, AP Racing two-disc plate clutch, and a limited-slip differential.
The differences continue with the suspension, now featuring adjustable dampers from Reiger and hard or soft springs from Eibach. The braking system comes courtesy of Alcon and AP Racing, featuring competition calipers, ventilated rotors up front, and solid rotors at the rear. As for the finishing touch for the exterior, OZ Racing wheels complement the looks of the Fiesta R2 like a hand in glove.
Described as “the perfect model for any aspiring young driver to prove their skill,” the rally-conscious hatchback can be optioned with an anti-roll bar for further enhance the chassis setup. Tipping the scale at 1,030 kilograms (2,271 pounds) in the lightest configuration, the Fiesta R2 comes with three-stage anti-lag, the M-Sport power distribution unit, a digital instrument cluster, and a Life Racing F88 engine control unit.
Being designed for rallying, the car also ships with a hydraulic handbrake that leverages on Alcon’s master cylinder. M-Sport also makes a case for three possible settings of the differential ramps, namely 23:57, 27:57, and 32:77.
Turning our attention back to the 1.0-liter EcoBoost, this engine has an alloy head and iron block, offering a combination of both strength and lightness. Like the series-production engine, the 999-cc powerplant makes use of four valves per cylinder.
Care to guess how much a fully-built Fiesta R2 costs? Make that €64,990 plus VAT. If you happen to own a Fiesta, the €37,900 conversion kit is how you can turn your subcompact hatchback into a fully-fledged rally car.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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