Ford news before Cyprus RallyThe Ford World Rally Team today completes a four-day development test on the gravel roads of northern Spain.
Gronholm drove for the first two days with Hirvonen taking over on Thursday and Friday. The team concentrated on perfecting car set-up
for the rallies in Australia and New Zealand later in the season, but heavy rain made back-to-back comparison work difficult.
Tyre choices for Cyprus
BP-Ford will use BFGoodrich's g-Force hard wear gravel tyres and teams are allowed to nominate two tread patterns. The standard pattern is relatively compact to ensure a maximum amount of rubber is in contact with the ground for the best possible grip and traction. The grooves can be hand cut to open them if there is a lot of loose gravel on the road surface or if the tracks become muddy. It will be available in medium and hard compound.
The second pattern is the g-Force gravel H2, a hard compound tyre which is bigger than the traditional option.
Debuted in Greece in June and designed specifically for hard surfaces and extreme conditions, the American company has produced a new evolution following development work during the summer.
Ford privateers in Cyprus
The M-Sport run Stobart-VK Rally Team has entered three 2004-specification Focus RS WRCs. The two cars nominated for points will be driven by Britons Matthew Wilson / Michael Orr and Argentines Luis Perez Companc and Jose Maria Volta. The third car will be in the hands of Argentines Juan Pablo Raies / Jorge Perez Companc.
Press release Ford World Rally Team
