“A Focus RS owner drove to us all the way from Moscow!”
to work in partnership with one another in the interests of creating a complete performance package for the special edition Ford. “Peron continued to develop the hardware while I concentrated on fine tuning the required software,” confirms Simon.
The Time Attack Series announced its intention to visit Knockhill and provided the perfect opportunity to
road test the new gear. The Fiesta was kitted out with safety harnesses, new-to-market KW coilovers and AP Racing four-pots, but disaster struck when Sitech’s rolling road packed up during a crucial mapping session. Fortunately, the car was able to compete despite the unwelcome technical difficulties, and it even managed to bag a trophy for being the fastest single entry in the frontwheel drive Club Class!
Though the ST was only able to chuck 220bhp at the front wheels, the six-speed stunner surprised Simon with its ability to hop kerbs and cut corners at speed. The suspension updates had transformed the car, and he had every confidence in its behaviour on track. Let’s not forget that it was being used as a daily driver too, a role that it performed faultlessly as it ably ferried Simon between work and home each and every day.
rolling ahead
A week after bagging the silverware, a brand new dyno was installed at Sitech HQ and the Fiesta was successfully mapped to 350bhp with 275lb/ ft torque. That’s a superb result and has since been bolstered by a 100 percent methanol injection system to raise the effective octane of fuel streamed to the engine. Simon stresses that the car feels rock solid and admits that it regularly puts his 500bhp Mk2 Focus RS to shame. “The Mk7 ST is amazing out of the box, but you don’t need to do a lot to it to make it a worthy track car that retains its everyday practicality,” he tells us. Mission accomplished. Well, almost...
Hidden away in the corner of the Sitech workshop lies Evolution Customs – a small but popular sign-writing and vehicle wrapping outfit that offered to decorate Simon’s ST in an unusual velvet coating. The car’s roof and bonnet are now covered in the stuff ( not to mention those distinctive side stripes), and the fuzzy felt has become a real talking point among those who have seen it up close. “It has a soft textured finish that’s similar to flocking, but can be hosed down and cleaned like any other vinyl wrap,” he says.
Other notable exterior modifications include a bespoke splitter to control airflow at the front of the car and a functional wing that helps to pin the back end to the track. It makes for a striking race-inspired rear, yet this is a Fiesta that continues to operate without complaint in its role as a trusted nine-tofive workhorse – a fact that strengthens our opinion that the Mk7 ST is a versatile Blue Oval capable of slapping a smile on the face of whoever is sat behind its steering wheel. Well, what are you waiting for?!