Buying a high performance car is beneficial. The driver can not only enjoy its robust power and performance, but also take advantage of its capacity and endurance. Some performance car aficionados describe it as getting the best of both worlds.
However, when it comes to driving the car on public roads, it can seem restrictive. The fact is that there is no safe way to open it. Both racers and drivers wanted to express their passion, and to some extent their outrage, to drive fast and rage. The good thing is that there is now a place to race safely and legally – no more worrying about the speedometer and odometer screaming your reading.
Previously, Ford Racing Performance Group (FRPG) ventured with the National Auto Sports Association (NASA) to create the much-finished Ford Focus Spec racing class. Regions participating in such racing class include Arizona, Northern California, Southern California, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Florida, Ohio-Indiana, Southeast, Midwest, Texas, and the Rocky Mountains.
“The Focus Spec class is designed to showcase the performance parts of the Focus and to provide an entry-level competitive racing environment that is affordable,” said Andy Slankard, FRPG Focus Program Manager. “I was the program manager on the 2002 SVT Focus. Since our first prototypes in the program, our team riders have always wished they could have 20 SVT Foci on the track at the same time. Now that can happen. The Focus is a lot of fun and forgiving driving on the limit”.
For four years in a row, Focus has won Car and Driver’s Top 10 awards. The award is attributed to the vehicle’s world-class dynamics, Ford Focus’s sophisticated performance parts and fun-to-drive nature. The automaker reported more than 2 million Focus sales in the United States. Of this number, many are used in racing competitions.
The mentioned class is open to all trim levels and model years of Ford Focus, including vehicles equipped with SVT Focus and 2.3-liter engine. The car’s racing series is designed to highlight the high-performance potential behind the Ford Focus platform. This is basically because the performance parts of the vehicle are modified when it is to be used for racing. Performance parts include suspension, brakes, engine, tires, and wheels.
Slankard also noted that Focus race cars are highly durable and easy to drive on the limit. “The competition has been very close, fender to fender, and the skilled drivers are prevailing. It will take a while to gain some traction, but the category is growing.”
“We wanted to be involved in Focus motorsports at the racer level, similar to what we had achieved with the FR500C,” said Jamie Allison, Ford Racing Performance Group manager. “NASA was able to provide us with the ideal venue to showcase the Focus’s inherent racing ability and allow us to showcase performance parts offerings.”
The Ford Focus is ready to compete with prices ranging from $6,000 to $10,000. Part assignments and constraints level the field based on different model combinations. After experiencing Focus, enthusiasts now recommend it for the best of the many worlds of the automotive industry.