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Piers Ward reports back live from Germany as he tackles Ford's hardest hot hatch, the 261kW Focus RS500.

Phew, no rain. Showers are always a risk in the Eifel mountains, which is where we're driving today, but fortunately it's a scorcher. Dry weather is crucial to this Ford Focus RS500 - 261kW and 461Nm fed through the front wheels is going to make traction a rare commodity, even on smooth tarmac.