Performance Parts & Engineering

With the second round of the Targa championship exploding into action on November 9, the team at Performance Parts & Engineering (PPE) has tested the awesome Ford Focus RS-T at Winton Raceway.

Along with owner/driver Glyn Crimp, the Targa 2WD Showroom Championship leaders used the twisty Victorian circuit to establish a baseline setup for Targa High Country, the second round in the championship.

“After running in majorly wet conditions at Targa Adelaide, this test was important for us to run again in the dry,” explained PPE boss Alan Heaphy.

The morning sessions focused (no pun intended) on equalising tyre pressures and finding a consistent, easy-to-drive setup that Crimp could comfortably work with through a day of torturous tarmac stages. “The work we’ve already put into the Focus RS-T means that it is inherently very nice to drive to begin with,” he said. “Today, we wanted to try a range of different shock settings so we can understand more about adapting the car to the prevailing conditions.”

Throughout the day the PPE Focus RS-T sounded strong, spitting flames on the overrun as it howled around Winton’s long circuit. Producing around 220kW at the wheels from its showroom-spec turbo-five and running on 245/40/R18 Dunlop Direzza tyres- hard front, medium rear- the RS-T regularly ran in the 1m:41 second range, proving fast and consistent- exactly what you want for Targa.

“There was some initial squirminess in the rear under brakes which we resolved through shock tuning, but otherwise the car was very balanced with good traction thanks to PPE’s work on the differential,” said Crimp.

Importantly, the Focus RS-T ran reliably through a day’s hard circuit driving, the only bug being a loss of boost through a turbo hose that was easily replaced. “This is why pre-event testing in tough conditions is so vital,” explained Heaphy. “Better to discover these issues before an important event like Targa High Country.”

Excitingly, PPE can offer Ford Focus RS owners a range of modification with differential, brake, suspension and cooling enhancements available for road, rally or racing. PPE can also offer complete cars to RS-T Targa 2WD Showroom specification.

The 2WD Showroom category is one of the most hotly contested in the Targa Championship series, with a swag of Renault Meganes- the Focus’s natural on-road rival- gearing up to take the fight to the RS-T. It’s set to be quite a battle, so check back for our full review of Targa High Country.

For more information on the PPE Ford Focus RS-T, please contact Alan Heaphy on (03) 8669 0230.