Fiesta
August 12th, 2011 by NZ Classic Car
While we usually think of Ford as an American carmaker the British arm of the blue oval has been operating for longer than most car companies have been around altogether. British Ford has been building vehicles for exactly 100 years and the company has been celebrating the milestone in a number of ways. A new special edition model is the latest.
While you’d usually expect a centenary edition model to be a uncompromising sports car that’s ultra exclusive, in this case its something different. Ford are selling a upgraded version of Britain’s biggest-selling small car, the Ford Fiesta with this special variant called the “Centura.”
The Centura celebrates the 100th anniversary of Ford in Britain, and it pays tribute to the first Ford vehicle to be manufactured in the UK, the Model T in 1911. Read the rest of this entry »
August 5th, 2011 by NZ Classic Car
Ford’s Fiesta had a highly successful year in 2010 with a massive number of global sales but this wasn’t the first big year for the plucky hatchback.
The Fiesta’s history goes all the way back to 1976 when the very first Fiesta rolled off the production line. Since then it has gone on to sell 15 million units and demand is showing no signs of slowing. The Fiesta is currently Europe’s biggest selling small-car with production coming out of Cologne, Germany. It is also built in Nanjing, China, Rayong, Thailand, and Cuautitlàn, Mexico.
After thirty-five years, six generations and 15 million cars the Fiesta began from humble beginnings and is now a nameplate with heritage and longevity. Read the rest of this entry »
November 23rd, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
Young kiwi rally driver Stephen Barker has shaken off some tough competition to win this year’s Fiesta SportTrophy International Shootout held at M-Sport in the north of the United Kingdom last week.
The 22-year-old from Kerikeri wins a 12-month work experience contract with M-Sport to work with the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. Barker also has the chance to work in a number of different areas of the company, travelling to the European WRC events, attending press functions and driving at PR events.
Barker was the 2010 Rally New Zealand Rising Stars Scholarship winner and utilised the scholarship’s fully-prepared Ford Fiesta rally car and professional mentoring to go on and win the two-wheel-drive championship category of this year’s Vantage New Zealand Rally Championship. This success also earned Barker the 2010 New Zealand Fiesta SportTrophy, an annual award made possible with the support of key sponsors like Peter Johnston of Genuine Vehicle Imports and Auckland Ssangyong, and with that came the opportunity to contest the international Fiesta shootout at M-Sport’s Cumbria headquarters.
Barker was regarded as one of the favourites to win the shootout title, but first he had to take on 17 other passionate, talented competitors, each having qualified for the shootout based on their performances in Fiesta SportTrophy championships around the globe. The 18 young men undertook a series of physical and psychological tests as well as a final driving challenge on a three kilometre stage at M-Sport’s Greystoke Forest.
Read the rest of this entry »
January 29th, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
Kiwi rally fans get to see a whole new class of WRC action when the new Super 2000 WRC category lines up for Rally New Zealand in May this year.
The Super 2000, or S2000, class of rally car currently comprises production-based cars with non-turbocharged two-litre engines. Ford and Skoda are the two manufacturers with the most S2000 vehicles confirmed for the 2010 season to date.
There are two competitions for S2000 entrants, explains Paul Mallard, general manager of Rally New Zealand.
“The Super 2000 World Rally Championship (S-WRC) is a competition for drivers and the WRC Cup is a competition for teams running S2000 cars,” says Mallard.
“Currently six teams have confirmed entries for the WRC Cup, with four of the teams selecting Rally New Zealand as one of their seven events in 2010.”
The International teams confirmed for Rally New Zealand are:
- The Czech Ford National Team brings Martin Prokop, the reigning FIA Junior World Rally Champion, to New Zealand in another Ford Fiesta S2000. Prokop’s move to the S-WRC is regarded by European rally commentators as one of the biggest names to make the switch to the new category. Prokop contested Rally New Zealand in 2008, taking a tight-fought P-WRC class win.
- Swedish driver Patrik Sandell and the Red Bull Rally Team are bringing a new Skoda Fabia S2000 to Rally New Zealand. Sandell drove this model of car to victory on the opening two P-WRC rounds in 2009 (when the S2000 cars were allowed to run in the same class as P-WRC cars). Like 2009, Sandell’s car will be run by Austrian motorsport company BRR under the Red Bull banner. Driving a Group N Mitsubishi, Sandell came second in the P-WRC category in Rally New Zealand in 2008.
- Barwa World Rally Team, which will run a Ford Fiesta S2000 for Qatar driver Nassar Al Attiyah, the 2006 Production World Rally Champion and six-time Middle East Rally Champion. Al Attiyah was one of the stars of the 2009 P-WRC season, driving his Subaru Impreza to class wins in Argentina and Italy. He will be accompanied to New Zealand in 2010 by his regular co-driver Italian Giovanni Bernacchini.
- The JanPro team from Finland has entered another Ford Fiesta S2000 for former official Skoda driver Janne Tuohino. Having contested 40 WRC events in several different WRC cars over seven seasons, the double Finnish rally champion will be back in 2010 with his privately-run team and co-driver Markku Tuohino.
- The S-WRC for drivers currently has eight drivers entered — those listed above and the following drivers who are not planning to come to New Zealand:
- Last year’s J-WRC runner-up Michal Kosciuszko with the Dynamic World Rally Team in a Ford Fiesta S2000;
- Former P-WRC driver Eyvind Brynildsen and Skoda Rene Georges Rally Sport will campaign a Skoda Fabia S2000;
- Portugal’s Bernardo Sousa is driving a Ford Fiesta S2000 prepared by M-Sport;
- And former WRC manufacturer team driver Xevi Pons is also contesting the S2000 Ford.
Marc de Jong, responsible for the commercial development of WRC support championships through the championship promoter North One Sport, says the take up for this year’s inaugural S-WRC competition was ‘fantastic’.
“The S-WRC has a very strong appeal because it is the championship of the future,” says de Jong. “These are the cars that are going to dominate the WRC of 2011, because S-WRC cars form the basis of the next generation of World Rally Cars.”
De Jong believes the number of entries could increase to 12 by the final cut-off date of 9 April.
“I’m aware of about four others who are close to signing up and confirming. If all goes to plan, I expect we will have between 10 and 12 entries. In the first year of a championship like this that is a fantastic number.”
Skoda and Ford are the only two manufacturers represented in the entries so far, but de Jong is expecting entries from other marques to follow. “I know that Peugeot, Abarth, Proton and MG drivers are among those looking to get into the championship.”
WRC regulations state that no new Super 2000 cars may be homologated after the end of 2010 with a normally aspirated two-litre engine. In future, they must be fitted with 1.6 litre turbocharged engine.
December 19th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
Relive all of the highlights of this year’s running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb from Engineers Corner. Be sure to catch all five parts (and the two bonus parts)! Part 2 of 5 includes
June 16th, 2009 by NZ Classic Car
After a damaging accident at the Rally of Whangarei there is a fundraiser to help raise money to allow Daniel Harris to continue his Rallying career. This is a massive project and the money raised will go toward getting Daniel’s car fixed as soon as possible.
When: Saturday July 4th
Time: 6:30pm
Where: World of Wearable Arts and Classic Cars
Ticket Price: $30 pp or $50 couple (Kids under 15 FREE!)
Supporters Raffle tickets: $25
How to purchase: From the Harris Rallysport website or send an email for payment details to – newsletter@harrisrallysport.co.nz
Alternatively, phone Karen 027 699 0722.
Each ticket purchased comes with a raffle number! Everyone who purchases goes into the draw to win a prize pack worth at least $500
There will be a complementary drink & nibbles and entertainment and presentations. All guests will get a tour of the Classic Cars/Wearable Art Museums.
Guest speaker on the night will be back-to-back NZV8 Champion John McIntyre
Exclusive items for auction include:
- Signed Toyota Racing Series nose star Brendon Hartley (nose valued at $5000!)
- Signed Peter Brock cap – New still with tags
- Brendon Hartley racing visors
To find out more, click here to visit the Harris Rallysport website
