Ford Fiesta R5: how does it behave on the road? – Sports cars
As soon as the morning sun dries it, the asphalt turns from black to a lighter and light gray, and emerald valley surrounded by steep cliffs, is in a calm and serene air: it is a classic view of the Lake District. When I enjoy the show, I have a question in mind: Fiesta or Ferrari?
I'm not crazy. BUT Party R5 da pull together it costs the same as a 458 Italia and both are allowed on the street. So, back to us: if you were in my place, which one would you choose to overcome the mountain pass? A hoarse voice comes from the radio that suddenly brings me back to reality, warning me that it's time. I turn on the Fiesta and leave. I'm going to find the answer ...
I have always wanted to enjoy driving a real rally car on a very normal road. This happens a lot during rallies, both during stages - in the case of asphalt races like Jim Clark - and when moving from one stage to another. But in both cases, the goal is not to have fun. However, today I want to discover how much fun it is to drive a real rally car at a good pace for the sake of it, without the fear of competition or the stress of having to cover distances quickly to get to the place. finish in time. next step. When I say "at a good pace", I mean high speed, but obviously much less than what the same car can keep on the same road if you have a navigator nearby that gives you accurate directions and with established security. from knowing you don't risk making a front with a car coming from the opposite direction.
YESTERDAY NEW PARTY R5 It was presented to the press for the first time and today I will be driving it on the way to Cheshire where it will take part in the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power sporting event. The R5 formula is a kind of WRC for half the price, and will replace the S2000 and Regional Rally Cars, which are used in WRC2 (Which now has been Robert Kubica) and European Rally ChampionshipAlso Citroën, Skoda e Peugeot will participate in Formula R5 and are currently working on their own cars, but M-Sport the first will present the finished product.
I first saw the Fiesta R5 this morning in a huge factory M-SportWhere the mechanics were preparing WRC cars in Qatar coloring to send to Sardinia in the afternoon. R5 five more are in various stages of construction on the plant. If not for an aerodynamic body kit (their most distinctive feature), I would take them for the WRC cars. Both have sequential gearbox e Reiger shock absorbers, four-wheel drive и the weight at 1.200 kg.
IL ENGINE DESIGNED M-Sport for Party R5On the other hand, it is completely different, because he has to follow certain rules: first select one flange 32 mm instead of 33 mm at the WRC cars. R5 is 90% new, and there are important differences that help to reduce costs. For example, for R5 widely used standard component, and although WRC automobiles tend to ease, R5 can withstand a few extra kilograms. Just take a look to understand the difference in concept between themgenerator: the WRC car is a gem that costs about 3.000 euros and can be lifted with one hand, while the R5 is taken from VolvoIt is quite heavy and costs 300 euros. It is the same with the other components, so the cost of Fiesta R5 is about 185.000 euros XNUMX. However, it is less than half of the WRC car, despite the fact that he is the slowest one second per kilometer and is much easier to manage.
Next to me, to take control of the car (and make sure he does not do something silly) Elfin Evans, selected for this task by the head of M-Sport himself, Malcolm Wilson: Evans is a 25-year-old champion WRC Academy, Son of the legendary Guindaf and is currently a pilot WRC (in Rally d'Italia he finished sixth with Party WRC). He's a very humble guy. After climbing barbell a Cage and go down into the salon (the first kilometers I sat in the passenger seat), fasten belts six points and wearing headphones, Evans briefly explain what I need to know to drive this car.
Start-rite noisy party it's incredibly easy. On the floor in front handbrake and gear lever. There is a switch in the upper right corner of the panel - just turn it down to hear the Fiesta wake up to whistling, rumbling and colorful lights. Then you step on a little pedal Clutch and press the button with a green sign: Home... I want to try accelerator while the engine wakes up very quietly (like a supercar), but Evans calms me down: the four-cylinder does not need help. In fact, a moment later, the engine wakes up with a barking bark that makes the entire cabin hum.
We walk through the wet streets of the village of Kokmut, and even if the seat is so low that I can barely see from the windshield, it is impossible not to notice passers-by who stop to take a curious look at the R5. It vaguely resembles the standard Fiesta, but with understated trim and matte gray-red livery accentuating the rounded wheel arches, it is eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing to the supercar. It even has carbon fiber mirrors.
After a couple of kilometers Elfin stops and leaves me with the driver's seat. In a way, cars of pull together managing them is easy: firstly, all controls are designed in such a way as to provide easy access to them. From the driver's side, the view isn't as flat or intimidating as it is on the Radical or the Atom, but two things scare me the most. The first one is noise: R5 it's literally deafening, and no insulation panels to protect the cab, any pedaling or everything Speed It seems amplified to the tenth degree. Every time you touch the throttle, or shift gears engine he answers with whistles, barks and roars. And the pilot was at the epicenter of this storm of noise: it's unnerving.
The second thing that makes me nervous is there Clutch... This is partly the noise that makes you think that you are giving the engine more rpm than necessary, so you decrease the throttle and when you release the clutch, the engine shuts down. In addition, the speed drops as soon as the clutch is released, so in this case, too, you need to dose the gas well so as not to drown the car. Immediately realizing what the problem was, while driving Elfin, I looked at which regime he began to imitate him and did not deceive himself.
I seem to have learned my lesson well, since my car never turns off in two hours. Villages, maneuvers, bottlenecks: I always manage to drive smoothly until I have to stop on a hill. Uphill and with a 20 percent incline. I have to stop to let a couple of old people drive the Micra, and when I'm about to leave, I give some gas and bam, the car stops. It happened to Elfin once, so I'm not too upset about it, but after trying it again and turning it off again, I start to worry. After the fourth unsuccessful attempt, beads of sweat have formed on my forehead, and I am afraid that we will be here for a long time. In the end, I understand that to start, you just need to raise the speed a lot, so I keep the clutch pressed, open the gas and when bus they start to take off I take my foot off the clutch. The car starts, and the engine barks through the stone walls, as if warning the entire valley that I have done this.
In motion, friction becomes irrelevant and you can enjoy the joys consistent six-speed. Gear lever a little easier and longer than I expected, but the gear hit the target with a pleasant mechanical sensation. As the pace increases and I get used to the R5, I let the mode grow and realize how short the gears are. Even on a narrow and winding road, such as the one that leads to the pass Honister, where most cars would suffice second, R5 is constantly going up and down. When I say this with Elfin, he tells me that R5 is now programmed to operate a maximum of 170 per hour. Now I understand why I can not let go of the gearbox.
Due to the fact that the engine develops 280 hp alleged (About 30 less than the WRC), the gear ratios seem even shorter. In normal mode, the mute anti-lag output 280 bhp really explosive: above 3.500 r / min, if you do not change gears quickly, once you get to the stop. There M-Sport He didn't want to reveal the R5's torque data, but judging by the punches he delivers to your back, he looks like a McLaren 12C.
Lo steering it is even more exclusive. At low speeds (that is, never, because it is impossible to resist the temptation to increase the pace), it is not very sensitive, but very accurate, and the car has good grip. This partly depends on what it sets the set Michelin last generation on circles 18 inches. Tires also cause me concern. Before getting behind the wheel, I was asked only two things: not to crash and not to lose tires. The road on which we drive, bordered by sharp stones, and if I accidentally touch them and gets off the bus, I will have to leave the car and start to chase after her, as if my life goes. The composition of tires is so secret that M-Sport has signed an agreement, which obliges him to pay a fine of one million euros, if he loses at least one bus ...
Turn, up, up one, two, then three gears, brake, down two gears, enter the corner, avoid the sheep, upshift, step over the puddle while aquaplaning and avoiding the front of the cars. moving in the opposite direction, I stop, lower the clutch and ... take a deep breath. The scariest thing is that although I'm driving at breakneck speed, faster than any other car on this twisty and shaky stretch of road, I'm far from on the verge of an R5, and I know that from the fact that the car isn't moving. she seems completely happy. The R5 only performs at its best if you enter corners as fast as possible. But riding it at that speed is a brutal test best left to the PS rally.
It is in any case does not mean that I did not like. Against. From this point of view, similar to R5 458 or GT3: he knows how to attract and entertain you, even if you do not pull on the neck. But it also gives you to understand how many compromises have to make compromises, even the most extreme, to make it accessible. performance.
M-Sport is considering the idea of creating a limited edition road R5, as happened with the bases of group B. It is enough to only slightly extend the gear, to raiseundercut and set a less aggressive rubber ... I want it!
