Ford has accelerated development work on its all-new Fiesta-based challenger for the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship, following confirmation by the sport’s governing body last week of technical regulations for the series new formula.

An agreement on engine specifications that will apply from the start of next season was crucial in enabling Ford of Europe and rally partner M-Sport to step up development of the vehicle, which will be derived from the highly successful Fiesta road car.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council agreed the introduction of a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, which can originate from a manufacturer’s base engine or be purpose-built in accordance with the new rules. It was the final technical decision to be taken following last year’s announcement that the new category for 2011 will be based on S2000 regulations.

Ford of Europe motorsport chief Gerard Quinn welcomed the WMSC decision. “It’s vital for the sport that we respond to greater environmental awareness and also reflect the direction that our road cars will take. It makes good sense to introduce the 1600cc turbo engine as early as possible, while using all the existing S2000 technical regulations that have proved so effective,” he said.

Ford 2011 championship car will be named the Fiesta RS WRC and will replace the record-breaking Focus RS World Rally Car.  Since its debut in 1999, the Focus has won 42 world rallies, with highlights in 2006 and 2007 when Ford won the manufacturers world title. The car has scored points on an amazing 121 consecutive world rallies, a record dating back to the start of the 2002 season.

The Fiesta RS WRC will be based on M-Sport Fiesta S2000 rally car which was launched in 2009 and won its debut event, the legendary Monte Carlo Rally, in January this year. However, there will be significant differences between the two cars, not only with the new 1.6-litre engine, but also in terms of appearance.

Ford of Europe Executive Director of Design, Martin Smith, and Head of exterior design, Stefan Lamm, who are responsible for the styling of the company’s latest eye-catching models, have already turned their attention to the 2011 Fiesta RS WRC

“The Fiesta is highly recognisable on the street as a great looking car. The rally car is all about functionality and we are working with our colleagues at M-Sport to make sure that it is just as bold and exciting to look at, as we’re sure it will be in action,” said Smith.

Engineers from Ford and M-Sport are co-operating closely on the development of the new turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, in conjunction with acknowledged French tuning expert Pipo Moteur. The future WRC car engine is based on Ford Duratec production unit.

“We started research several months ago in the expectation that the 1.6-litre turbocharged formula would receive the go-ahead,” explained M-Sport managing director and BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team director Malcolm Wilson.

“It took a long time for the decision to be finalised but, now it has, the team is working flat-out and I’m confident we have the time we need to develop, build and test the engine to the high standards required before the start of the 2011 season,” added Wilson.

“We expect to receive the first unit at the end of July and that will allow us to begin testing the Fiesta RS WRC with the new 1.6-litre turbo engine at the end of August. Before that, the team will test the Fiesta S2000 with a current Focus RS WRC 2.0-litre turbo engine, to gain an understanding of the behaviour of the car under turbocharged power.

American action sports icon Ken Block and his Monster World Rally Team have scored their first victory in the Rally America series with a win for the Ford Fiesta at the 100 Acre Wood Rally in Missouri. Ken Block proved the strength and reliability of his Monster Energy Drink Fiesta by winning the 2010 Rally America 100 Acre Wood Rally by 21-seconds over second place Antoine L’Estage. The win is the first for the Ford Fiesta in a North American Stage Rally and the first for Fiesta in Rally America competition. The win for Block was his fifth straight victory at the two-day 100 Acre Wood Rally.

"I can’t tell you how difficult and challenging this weekend has been," said Block. "This is the location of my first national rally win, so I have now won this rally five years in a row and it is a pretty good feeling to get the Fiesta home in first. The Fiesta is a big change from the car I was racing before, but I am finally starting to come to grips with how to drive it and how to go as fast as I can. It is very fun to drive and I am really enjoying the Fiesta."

Block started the second day over a minute behind the leader and in third place. Overnight changes to his Fiesta allowed Block to win three of the ten stages and overcome the deficit and secure victory.

“Two months ago this program did not exist and today Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team have celebrated Ford Fiesta’s first Rally America victory. It has been nothing short of amazing to see Ken’s Fiesta program develop before our eyes,” said Jamie Allison, Ford Director of North America Motorsport. "The Ford Fiesta is proving to be an incredibly competitive platform for rallying," said Gerard Quinn, Ford of Europe’s Motorsport Manager. "Within the last six months Fiesta has won X Games gold in North America, our UK-based rally partner, M-Sport, took a Fiesta S2000 to victory on the 2010 Monte Carlo Rally and now Ken Block’s car has claimed its first stage rally win in the United States. What an incredible start for Fiesta!"

The two-litre turbocharged Monster Fiesta Rally America car is prepared by Swedish team Olsbergs Motorsports Evolution (OSME) and is based on the successful production-based Fiesta Rallycross car that competed in the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 2009. It was OSME that took a Fiesta Rallycross car to last year’s famous Pikes Peak hillclimb in the United States and two weeks later won the X Games event.

Block’s four-wheel drive Monster Fiesta Rally America car has been modified to comply with Rally America’s Open class regulations. It is fitted with a turbo restrictor to comply with championship regulations and produces around 330bhp (326PS)

But the Monster World Rally Team has precious little time to enjoy its victory as the team is moving on quickly to Mexico where Ken Block will make his FIA World Rally Championship debut for Ford in a Focus RS WRC