FORGOTTEN HISTORY: The WRC Transit
Inspired by M-Sport’s service barges, 20 years ago the World Rally Transit was the fastest service van in the business.
Ford created the WRC Transit in the early 2000s — quite possibly the ultimate service barge. Graham Robson recounts how it came about and why they only built one.
No-one really needed a reason for making it — the Transit was a great publicity machine, put together by Paul Wilson’s Ford Press garage team. Every Martini decal and every visual detail was right. It looked the part and, at a pinch, it could even have worked for its living with Ford’s M-Sport team. With a claimed top speed of 130 mph it could keep up with the latest Mondeo ST200 on most main roads. 130 mph? Really? You’d better believe it…
The World Rally Transit was based on a standard high-roof turbodiesel model, with a front-mounted engine and rear drive. However, although the 2.4-litre engine had been tweaked to 165 bhp, there were 8x18 inch rally-type alloy wheels, and the very Focus WRC-style cabin featured snugly-moulded Sparco rally seats, and a small Momo sports wheel. The suspension was lowered, springs and dampers were uprated, and there was also a deep front splitter to make it look mean.
It was fully road legal, of course — but not for the modest. And why the number 5 on the doors? That was the permanent competition number carried by Colin McRae’s M-Sport Focus WRC in the 2000 season.
And where is it now? Still under Ford’s control, still in the Heritage Collection, and still in great demand. Because the original Martini contract is now over, only the livery has changed.