Apparently, I missed this event, but...

[DJ]

...I'm gonna make up for it tomorrow.

We apparently had an event here at a local Ford dealership where Ford introduced their new Fiesta Rallycross cars that will assault Pike's Peak tomorrow. Marcus Gronholm was there. See the YouTube video here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_hq8NsdpKk). Also note the quick shot of the technician with the laptop in the car. I think he was tuning the Megasquirt. :D

Gonna make up for missing this by finally going to the big event (Pike's Peak International Hill Climb) tomorrow with my son. Bought VIP passes for the starting line instead of sleeping in the car all night on the roadway to try to get up higher on the course.

Gronholm will be driving one of the new Fiestas and Rallycross champ Mark Rennison will be driving a 1999 Ford RS200 with 1,150 HP. Current record holder Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima will also be back with his 1,000 HP Suzuki XL7.

Hope to have some good pictures and maybe some video afterwards.

[DJ]

Another vid of the press event here in Denver.

Ford Fiesta Press Launch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuoFZzmINnQ&feature=fvw)

[1,6 HF]

It looks as though both Gronholm and Eriksson will be driving Fiestas. And those cars don't appear to be stock...

[DJ]

Yup and nope.

Eriksson is the team owner. The Fiestas are AWD and have 800 HP. Probably not a great daily driver.

Eriksson rolled his car on the first run and missed a lot of practice while it was being repaired.

Gronholm's car overheated mysteriously just as he finished his day 3 run.

Rennison's engine blew on the first run, 4th turn. He had to wait for parts to arrive from Europe so he's not getting much practice either.

Monster is the only one in the unlimited class that was able to make all 9 practice runs. Those darn inscrutable Japanese with their reliable cars!

Everyone's excited this year because it's very possible that someone breaks into the 9s.

[1,6 HF]

...Everyone's excited this year because it's very possible that someone breaks into the 9s.

The last 1.5 seconds is always the hardest.

[DJ]

The last 1.5 seconds is always the hardest.

Indeed. At least that's what my wife says.