buRRp
Moderator
Us Americans get an unfair rap around the world, especially when it comes to racing. We’re often disparaged as only being able to race in a straight line, though that couldn’t be further from the truth. We’ve got some excellent ambassadors of speed, among them racer and Top Gear America host Tanner Foust.
Tanner Foust Racing let the world know that their main man in Rallycross is getting a new look for his race-ready Fiesta, and his appearance in the FIA European Rallycross will be the first for an American driver.
So we’ve heard of rally racing, but what exactly is Rallycross? It’s a bit of a blend between on-and-off road racing, with elements of rallying, road racing, and even drifting thrown in. Foust actually competed in, and won, numerous Rallycross events held in 2010 in America (the sport’s American debut). Behind the wheel of the Rockstar Fiesta, and with the Swedish Olsberg MSG team at his back, Foust will represent all of America in the European Rallycross Championship in 2011.
The competition will have its work cut out for them, as Foust will be piloting a 600 horsepower, all-wheel drive Fiesta that took him to pole positions in all four American Rallycross races. The new look for Foust’s Fiesta certainly makes it hard to miss, and we can’t wait to see him tearing up the track in Rallycross. We’d also like a chance to buy a turbocharged, all-wheel drive Fiesta for ourselves, but we won’t hold our breath.
Official Release
TANNER FOUST UNVEILS NEW LOOK FOR RALLYCROSS AT AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL IN EUROPE
BIRMINGHAM, UK (January 13, 2011) – Tanner Foust will unveil a new look on Thursday for his 2011 rallycross Ford Fiesta at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, UK.
The American driver and TV host will campaign the Rockstar-etnies Ford Fiesta, with the support of the Swedish Olsbergs MSE team, in the European Rallycross Championship as he makes a run for the title in 2011. He is the first American ever to compete in the FIA European Rallycross Championship.
“It is great to fly the American flag overseas and when it comes down to it, it’s driver against driver,” said Foust. “The real pleasure I get out of it is bringing this sport to the US and showing people at home how cool this sport is and how much potential it has.”
He was an immediate threat in a limited 2010 European Rallycross campaign that took him to Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, and Czech Republic.
“I got a taste of it last year and I’m looking forward to battling it out again in 2011,” said Foust. “I’m really enjoying it: the series is very competitive, and the fans are educated and enthusiastic.”
In the United States, Foust took a pair of gold medals at the X Games Rally competitions, and finished on the podium at all four of the inaugural US rallycross races.
The 2011 Rockstar-etnies Ford Fiesta is a 600 hp all-wheel drive vehicle, purpose-built for rallycross. Developed by the Swedish Olsbergs MSE team, the car is similar to the one Foust campaigned on the European and US rallycross championships in 2010, and which bashed and jumped its way to double gold medals at X Games in 2010.
Also at the show is a sneak preview of the new line of Tanner Foust merchandise, which will be available for sale later this year at select etnies dealers worldwide.
“Our sponsors are heavily involved in youth-oriented action sports and the new look of the team reflects that,” said Foust “It’s an American look and feel.”
Held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, UK, since 1991, Autosport International has been widely regarded as a showcase event for the Motorsport Industry. Running from the 13th – 16th of January 2011, this annual pre-season network event covers all areas of motorsport, both professional and grassroots.
Foust will be available at the Autosport International show on Thursday at 1 p.m. where he will be discussing his European season at the Mountune stand (booth #8540, Hall 8), where the car is on display. An announcement regarding his 2011 US competition schedule is expected in the coming weeks
if only they made it a production model
