Great Read: McRae's WRC Focus beast

'It was unbelievable!'  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ View in browser View in browser ARTICLES MAGAZINE SHOP DATABASE SHOP ARCHIVE Guenther Steiner on engineering McRae's Focus WRC beast: 'It was unbelievable' September 2022| James Elson Ford announced today that it will return to the World Rally Championship with a full factory team from 2028. Which gives us an excuse to look back at one of its memorable machines, which came agonisingly close to the title with Colin McRae. Guenther Steiner remembers how he and the M-Sport team developed the Focus WRC. It isn’t often that the abiding memory of a World Champion is associated almost equally with two iconic cars, but Colin McRae might just be a case in point. Just as mentions of the 1995 WRC title–winner conjures up images of him ‘donutting’ round a service park in a 555-branded Subaru Impreza, so too is he known for threading the teardrop shaped, Martini-liveried Ford Focus through tight mountain roads and over unforgiving Kenyan terrain – as well as shunting it a few times. READ MORE MEMORABILIA Andrew Francis Why damaged racing memorabilia can be worth more to collectors A dented helmet, worn race suit or chipped trophy can carry something a pristine collectible cannot: evidence of where it has been and the moment in motor racing history that made it significant. READ MORE PODCAST F1 Show with Mark Hughes Ferrari's next boss? Christian Horner's one demand Christian Horner has been linked with Ferrari and says Red Bull has lost its mojo. Mark Hughes weighs both claims before looking back at Baku and ahead to Sepang. WATCH NOW PODCAST F1 Show with Mark Hughes Ferrari's next boss? Christian Horner's one demand Christian Horner has been linked with Ferrari and says Red Bull has lost its mojo. Mark Hughes weighs both claims before looking back at Baku and ahead to Sepang. WATCH NOW WRC Anthony Peacock 'Back where it belongs': why Ford is making factory WRC comeback after 15 seasons Ford will return to the WRC as a factory manufacturer in 2028, developing a new car for the 2029 season under the FIA’s incoming regulations. READ MORE F1 Matt Bishop Jochen Mass resisted F1's 'curse'. That's why we miss him so much His career began on a cargo ship in icy Arctic seas. Then a chance hillclimb visit brought Jochen Mass into motor sport - to an F1 win on a sombre day and to Le Mans triumph. Matt Bishop remembers a spirited driver who loved to race for the sake of it. READ MORE F1 Matt Bishop Jochen Mass resisted F1's 'curse'. That's why we miss him so much His career began on a cargo ship in icy Arctic seas. Then a chance hillclimb visit brought Jochen Mass into motor sport - to an F1 win on a sombre day and to Le Mans triumph. Matt Bishop remembers a spirited driver who loved to race for the sake of it. READ MORE F1 Pablo Elizalde F1's penalty system is falling short. Here's how to fix it When Franco Colapinto took out Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly in the Azerbaijan GP, stewards applied F1's rules correctly, giving him a 10sec penalty. But shouldn't a crash that takes out two other cars come with a heavier sanction? READ MORE ADVERTISEMENT Some of the incredible offerings available at The Signature Store website Alain Prost, Motor Racing Icons book (signed / unsigned) BUY NOW Ayrton Senna by Nick Holdsworth signed 1 of 1 giclee print BUY NOW Nigel Mansell Motor Racing Icons book (signed / unsigned) BUY NOW Emerson Fittipaldi 1/8 Lotus 72 side pod signed by Fittipaldi BUY NOW Ayrton Senna: Motor Racing Icon Motor Racing Icons book BUY NOW Nigel Mansell Lotus scale rear wing signed by Nigel Mansell BUY NOW Alain Prost, Motor Racing Icons book (signed / unsigned) BUY NOW Ayrton Senna by Nick Holdsworth signed 1 of 1 giclee print BUY NOW Nigel Mansell Motor Racing Icons book (signed / unsigned) BUY NOW Emerson Fittipaldi 1/8 Lotus 72 side pod signed by Emerson Fittipaldi BUY NOW Update your content preferences UPDATE NOW Connect with us We now accept © 2025 Motor Sport Magazine, All rights reserved. Motor Sport Magazine, 18-20 Rosemont Road, London, NW3 6NE. © 2025 Motor Sport Magazine, All rights reserved. Motor Sport Magazine,  18-20 Rosemont Road, London, NW3 6NE. Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy