<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-st-touring-car/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/focustc-630op.jpg" alt="" /></a><em><strong><br />
</strong></em>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2012 Ford Focus ST touring car - Click above for high-res image gallery<br />
</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
Few automakers have the deep history in motor racing as <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford">Ford</a>. But these days the Blue Oval isn't fielding much in the way of factory works racing teams, opting instead to support independent campaigns and privateers. Plenty of race-ready packages are available for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/mustang">Mustang</a>, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/fiesta">Fiesta</a> just joined the fold with a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/02/ford-offers-168-hp-r2-rally-kit-for-fiesta-announces-fiesta-spo/">new rally package</a> and now the new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus">Focus</a> is jumping in on the action as well.<br />
<br />
Ford is using the upcoming <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/29/paris-2010-2012-ford-focus-st-hatches-early/">Focus ST</a> as the basis for an adaptable touring car program, working with teams that will be campaigning it in series around the world. First up will be the British Touring Car Championship, with further forays planned to follow in the China Touring Car Championship and the Nürburgring 24-hour race. Although development will be carried out largely by the participating teams, they'll have access to Ford technology and expertise, while Ford inversely plans to use the program to benefit the development of the Focus production car.<br />
<br />
The touring car is being developed in accordance with the FIA's Super 2000 regulations, a platform from which Ford figures the Focus could easily be adopted for use in other categories as well, including the BTCC's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/14/next-generation-toyota-avensis-touring-car-previewed-in-sketches/">Next Generation Touring Car</a>. Few details on the car's specifications have been revealed beyond that, but you can read the full announcement after the jump while scoping out the pair of images in the gallery below.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-st-touring-car">2012 Ford Focus ST touring car</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-st-touring-car/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/flagfocustc_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-st-touring-car/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/focustc_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Ford]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/08/ford-announces-touring-car-motorsport-program-for-new-focus/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford announces Touring Car motorsport program for new Focus</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/08/ford-announces-touring-car-motorsport-program-for-new-focus/">Ford announces Touring Car motorsport program for new Focus</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:02:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/08/ford-announces-touring-car-motorsport-program-for-new-focus/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19706253/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/08/ford-announces-touring-car-motorsport-program-for-new-focus/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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</strong></em>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2012 Ford Focus ST touring car - Click above for high-res image gallery<br />
</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
Few automakers have the deep history in motor racing as <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford">Ford</a>. But these days the Blue Oval isn't fielding much in the way of factory works racing teams, opting instead to support independent campaigns and privateers. Plenty of race-ready packages are available for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/mustang">Mustang</a>, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/fiesta">Fiesta</a> just joined the fold with a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/02/ford-offers-168-hp-r2-rally-kit-for-fiesta-announces-fiesta-spo/">new rally package</a> and now the new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus">Focus</a> is jumping in on the action as well.<br />
<br />
Ford is using the upcoming <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/29/paris-2010-2012-ford-focus-st-hatches-early/">Focus ST</a> as the basis for an adaptable touring car program, working with teams that will be campaigning it in series around the world. First up will be the British Touring Car Championship, with further forays planned to follow in the China Touring Car Championship and the Nürburgring 24-hour race. Although development will be carried out largely by the participating teams, they'll have access to Ford technology and expertise, while Ford inversely plans to use the program to benefit the development of the Focus production car.<br />
<br />
The touring car is being developed in accordance with the FIA's Super 2000 regulations, a platform from which Ford figures the Focus could easily be adopted for use in other categories as well, including the BTCC's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/14/next-generation-toyota-avensis-touring-car-previewed-in-sketches/">Next Generation Touring Car</a>. Few details on the car's specifications have been revealed beyond that, but you can read the full announcement after the jump while scoping out the pair of images in the gallery below.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-st-touring-car">2012 Ford Focus ST touring car</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-st-touring-car/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/flagfocustc_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-ford-focus-st-touring-car/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/focustc_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Ford]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/08/ford-announces-touring-car-motorsport-program-for-new-focus/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ford announces Touring Car motorsport program for new Focus</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/08/ford-announces-touring-car-motorsport-program-for-new-focus/">Ford announces Touring Car motorsport program for new Focus</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:02:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/08/ford-announces-touring-car-motorsport-program-for-new-focus/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19706253/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/08/ford-announces-touring-car-motorsport-program-for-new-focus/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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