Although the Ford Fiesta has been incredibly popular in the UK since the dawn of time, the Americans have seen very little of the diminutive hatchback. However, as petrol prices soar the American public are waking up to the attraction of compact cars and Ford are seizing the opportunity by making the Fiesta available in the States next year. As part of their pre-launch publicity drive Ford have decided to create a Rallycross version and go and tackle one of the toughest events in the calendar, the 2009 Pikes Peak Hill Climb.
There will be two Fiestas competing in the event, managed by Sweden’s Olsberg Motor Sport Evolution, a motorsport company headed by Andreas Eriksson. At 35, Erikkson knows a thing or two about rallying, having won the Swedish rally championship four times as well as multiple rallycross victories to his name. Eriksson will be driving one of the Fiestas, while the other will be driven by two-times WRC champion Marcus Gronholm.
They are competing in the Unlimited Class andare hoping to be the first team to make the ascent in under ten minutes. That’s no easy task over the 12.4 mile course, with 156 corners to learn over a mixture of tarmac and gravel surfaces.
The 2009 Pikes Peak Hill Climb will be held on July 19th.