The blue Oval has launched the Ford Fiesta Rally School in collaboration with Team O'Neil Rally School in New Hampshire. The company will provide 43 Ford Fiesta units for the new rally, which will be modified in order to cope with the race conditions. Team O'Neil Rally School will fit the Ford Fiesta provided with a roll bar, rally suspension and off-road tires.
The new Ford Fiesta Rally School will be located in Dalton, N.H., and will give the opportunity to learn how to drive on a real rally course in a Fiesta. The course will span for the length of three days, with a one-day Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience and two-day Ford Racing Rally School. some of the new skills you will learn through this program include left-foot braking,
various other braking, steering and throttle techniques, the Scandinavian flick and the pendulum turn.
The price of the Ford Fiesta Rally School program is $495 and you can register to participate at www.teamoneil.com; or call the school at (603) 444-4488; or email info@teamoneil.com.
Ford Press Release:
Last year, 100 European-spec Ford Fiestas arrived in North America for the Fiesta Movement. This summer, 43 of the Fiestas will receive a second life as Ford Racing teams up with Team O’Neil Rally School to create the Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience in Dalton, N.H.
The Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience is the only rally experience offered by a manufacturer in North America and will provide aspiring rally drivers with the opportunity to learn how to drive on a rally course in a Fiesta. The creation of the Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience is the latest addition to Ford’s racing experiences with
the first being Ford Racing School of High Performance Driving at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.
“Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience will provide consumers with the opportunity to experience Fiesta in a true rally environment,” said John Felice, general manager, Ford and Lincoln Marketing. “From learning how to drive high-performance Mustangs on the track at Miller Motorsports to driving a Fiesta on a rally road course at Team O’Neil, these driving schools allow consumers to experience our products in unique and different environments.”
For the Fiesta rally experience, Team O’Neil will modify each production front-wheel-drive Fiesta with a roll bar, rally suspension and off-road tires, and will then feature Fiesta in its Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience.
“The opportunity to find a second life for nearly half of the cars from the Fiesta Movement is a way to keep alive the legacy these cars have brought to the Fiesta launch in North America,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “Fiesta’s nimble driving dynamics and precise handling attributes make it a perfect fit to serve as a rally school car at Team ONeil.”
“Our philosophy at Team O’Neil is to teach
drivers how to master front-wheel drive in order to keep speed in the corners, accelerate through the corners, and use the brake to make a turn,” said Tim O’Neil, five-time U.S. and North America rally racing champion. “Fiesta is a strong, light, front-wheel-drive car. The addition of Ford Racing-developed performance parts including an rally suspension, underbody protection and roll bar gives us a great future with these cars.”
Fiesta will be incorporated into Team O’Neil’s one-day Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience and two-day Ford Racing Rally School. The classes will introduce students to the fine art of driving a rally car. Aspiring rally drivers learn the left-foot braking technique pro drivers use, and the braking, steering and throttle techniques that allow drivers to slide through corners under control. Beginner students get a chance to ride at “maximum attack” with a Team O’Neil driving instructor on real rally roads, while more advanced students get an opportunity to drive in rally conditions. Additionally, students will have a chance to be in the car as Team O’Neil instructors demonstrate the exciting “Scandinavian flick” or pendulum turn.
The cost per student for the one-day Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience is $495, which includes a short classroom session on vehicle dynamics, safety, balance and car control. Most of the day will be spent driving on either the skid pad or slalom course, practicing the techniques of car control rally driving on gravel conditions in a rally-prepared Ford Racing Fiesta.
“The Ford Fiesta has had a memorable rally debut here in the U.S., winning at last year’s X Games and most recently partnering with Ken Block in Rally America,” said Allison. “With this opportunity, who knows if the next Ken Block will start his rally career with a session at Team O’Neil in a Ford Fiesta.”
“Ford has always been very active in the rest of the world as far as rally goes. Driving the Fiesta is like driving an expensive German car. It is the coolest Ford I have ever driven and I have driven almost every Ford product in the world,” said O’Neil. “To grow rally in North America, we need people who want to compete to have access to a light, reliable, strong car that is inexpensive, easy to maintain and easy to get parts for. I think Fiesta will be an affordable option for the clubs and sportsmen.”
For more information on Ford Racing Fiesta Rally Experience and to register, go to www.teamoneil.com; or call the school at (603) 444-4488; or email info@teamoneil.com
