Focus RS ’Rings out

Ford’s 300bhp hot hatch misses out on Megane R26.R’s Nurburgring record. Is it time for the silliness to stop?

Posted by: Sam Philip, 11 August 2009

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Ford Focus RS

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Apologies for continuing to fuel the great Nurburgring Lap Time Fire, but we thought you'd want to hear about this one: the Ford Focus RS has failed in its bid to break the Renaultsport Megane R26.R's class record.

In conjunction with German magazine Sport-Auto, Ford took its double-hot hatch to the 'Ring with the intention of beating the Megane's time of 8m17s, a record for front-wheel-drive production cars set last summer.

But, in the hands of the excellently named Horst von Saurma Jeltsch, the Focus recorded a time of 8m26s, a full nine seconds off the Renault's record.

Maybe this isn't surprising. The Megane is virtually a race car for the road - slick tyres, stripped-out interior, roll cage - while the Focus, despite packing 300bhp, is a proper hatchback with proper rear seats and proper glass windows.

And, furthermore, without seriously detailed information on the conditions of the track, it's notoriously difficult to read much into 'Ring lap times. Over 14 miles, even the slightest dampness can affect a lap by dozens of seconds, and - though we're sure Herr Jeltsch is a fine driver - detailed local knowledge is invaluable.

Perhaps more importantly, does it matter? Does the fact your car can slide round the ‘Ring a couple of seconds quicker than another make any difference in the real world, on real roads? Has this Nurburgring obsession got out of hand?

That said, Ford, if you're going to play the game, you've got to be prepared to lose. Time for a Superleggera Focus RS, maybe? 

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What do you think?

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AlKim commented on this article

at 01:30 pm on 11 August 2009

I think the Renault is pretty ridiculous. If you really want a light sports car with little in the way of comfort, why not buy a Caterham instead? At least the Ford has a use in real life.

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ecosse8 commented on this article

at 02:45 pm on 11 August 2009

Lets face it, the Focus RS will be more likely to be filled with chavs doing rings around the local town centre than it is any racing track, so yes, this is a pointless test..

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Nakke commented on this article

at 02:49 pm on 11 August 2009

No suprise it didnt beat the Renault. The RS is a proper car, the Ren isn't. I am a Ford man myself, but i do love the standard R26, but think the R26-R is just stupid. Who is going to buy a Megane just for track use? And just think how badly the RS would trounce the Megane, if Ford were to strip it as light as the R26R.

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jak92 commented on this article

at 03:03 pm on 11 August 2009

this has got out of hand now. its a waste of time, its just something for manufactures to brag about now. but, a light-weight focus rs would be amazing!

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JB_VXR commented on this article

at 06:25 pm on 11 August 2009

Megane works fine in real life, just doesn't have rear seats, like many fast cars that also have a use. Then Ren isn't a proper car, lol, if by proper you mean a fat turd then yes. What if what if. What if Renault increase the bhp on the R26.R, same argument, also pointless. Wouldn't be surprised if a stripped RS comes out tho just to beat that time and devalues all the ones already sold.

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