Zoom Ford enters another motorsports scene

The new Fiesta Rallycross cars have already created plenty of buzz in the rally community with word of their North American motorsport debut in July's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA.

WRC champion Marcus Gronholm and four-time Swedish rally champion Andreas Eriksson will each take on the legendary mixed-surface event at the controls of Ford's latest challenger.

Now, in addition to Pikes Peak, the Swedish Olsbergs Motorsport Evolution (MSE) team will also compete in ESPN's X Games situated in Los Angeles, California, from July 30th to August 2nd, 2009. This will be the first time a Ford race car has been part of the X Games' Rally competition.

Olsbergs MSE is entering the event with the famous Swedish driver and Indy 500 winner Kenny Brack. The team will also field two Ford Fiestas for the Rockstar Energy Drink Team with drivers Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan. All three Fiestas will be based on the European Fiesta Rallycross car and comply with Rally America Open Class specifications.

The X Games, considered the premier action sports event in the world, features athletes from across the globe competing in a variety of sports, ranging from skateboarding, motocross, BMX and rally car racing.

The Winter X Games are held early each year and the Summer X Games are usually held in August, both in the United States. Participants compete to win bronze, silver and gold medals.

In addition to the two U.S. -based events, ESPN has held X Games competition and demonstration events around the world including Dubai, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, Malaysia, Spain and China.

"The new Fiesta is already creating headlines around the world," said Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North America Motorsport. "The announcement that it would compete at Pikes Peak was greeted so positively by enthusiasts everywhere. Now, to back it up with competition at the X Games will just create even more buzz for the car."

"We are very excited to see the Fiesta competing not only at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, but also at the X Games in L.A.," said Jost Capito, director of Ford Global Motorsport Business Development. "The competition will be extremely strong in both events, but we've put together a strong team with the Rockstar/BF Goodrich Tyres Fiestas and our all star drivers."

"The Olsbergs Motor Sport Evolution race team is doing an outstanding job in preparing the cars for both of these world famous events," Capito stated.

D.B. © CAPSIS International