PIONEERING FOCUS
The Mk3 Focus ST250 was a bit of a slow starter in modifying circles, but thankfully with people like Ian Taylor and his heavily-tweaked ST250 about, it wasn’t long before a path was forged for others to follow…
Since its inception in 2007, the Ford-Mania club has grown from strength to strength It’s become a non-stop hive of activity, as Blue Oval fans from across the globe converge in one community (both ‘virtual’ online across the clubs forum and social media pages, and ‘real life’ at one of the many club meets or events the club attends) to discuss the finer points of intercooler cores, chargecooler flow rates, turbo upgrades and what injectors to squeeze into the cylinder head for maximum power potential. It’s no wonder really, the mantra of inclusion rather than exclusion has seen its founder, Ian Taylor, forge onwards with a couple of project cars that have become so well known that companies are literally clambering to get involved with his builds, his current Mk3 Focus ST, named Predator, being no exception to that rule.
With the reach of Ford-Mania now extending across continents with independent sub groups in both the USA and even Australia, it’s clearly become more than just a group of local mates having a good time. And it’s come a long way since it was first launched as RS-Mania all of those years ago. Anyway, enough about all that, what about the car, behind the man, behind Ford-Mania?
“It’s not so violent that it pulls you all over the road, but you have to be ready to catch it if you’re violent on the throttle out of a bend”
We heard about this car through Pioneer UK and loved the idea that a rally-inspired hardcore ST could also be a fully fledged ICE powerhouse, not least because everything about this car is geared up to define both power and style. While Ian loves the idea of parking up in a grassy field surrounded by his mates and a BBQ, he’s also rather keen on “kicking its head in” whenever the chance presents itself. Those who have seen the YouTube video with Jamie FYD will know he’s not afraid of the power on tap from the mildly breathed upon, but nonetheless deceptively rapid 2.0 EcoBoost lump. Having collected the car from the Ford dealership in late 2015, Ian wasted no time extending his hand out to an enormous list of potential contacts – after all, why run a respected Ford club and not make the most of it, right?
Initial changes focused upon the styling as Maxton Design were called upon for a pre-facelift Mk3 version 2 front splitter, side skirts, front aero canards and a rear splitter to suit the overall racecar aesthetic that was set to emerge. Ian always wanted to pursue a rally replica or BTCC angle with the car and that was never more apparent than when a certain Ken Block started doing donuts around things in Gymkhana 9, setting the precedent for RS rallycross cars as a result. The wrap, from Blueprint Design in Nottingham, followed shortly after as talks with Fifteen52 wheels in America also netted Ian a set of 8.5x18in Turbomac rims for that perfect slice of motorsport inspired white wheel perfection. “They’re an absolute swine to keep clean though, especially with the uprated Tar-Ox discs and EBC pads that seem to kick out tonnes of dust.” Still, improved braking is necessary when you discover that there’s a very impressive 330bhp contained beneath that vinyl wrapped exterior.
The quest for more power began when
Ian visited Eric at KMS Motorsport in Wigan for a Section 18 de-cat, turbo back, nonresonated exhaust system that features five-inch exhaust tips. Not only does it sound incredible on the overrun as it pops and crackles, but as it reverberates around the underground car park we’re frequenting, there’s no doubt something out of the ordinary is in attendance. As the Airtec Mk3 RS style induction kit and Stage 2 intercooler both gulp down air under heavy load, there’s a swell of effortless torque that’s seriously impressive from a 2.0-litre.
Actual figures remain unproven but with the Stratified Tuning flash remap that can be live switched using the COBB access port, Ian can switch between base, valet and all out turbo-nutter mode in mere seconds. The way the car responds, still retaining the standard turbo, is impressive to say the least. With somewhere in the region of 330hp and 445lb/ft at its disposal, torque steer is present but very manageable thanks to the way the boost builds progressively with no lag whatsoever. “I quite like the fight of torque steer though,” laughs Ian, “it’s not so violent that it pulls you all over the road, but you have to be ready to catch it if you’re violent on the throttle out of, say, a
second-gear bend.”
It certainly puts you back in the seat as 2223psi of boosted air hits home, making for a very capable and effortlessly rapid road car indeed. Looking at the smile on Ian’s face as he gives it the beans, it’s apparent this car is as much about planting size tens in the shag pile as it is showing off in static displays. Of course, it does both rather well, you understand!
To that end Pioneer UK decided to sponsor Ian’s car with an all-encompassing ICE setup. Heading the sounds is a top of the line AVIC-Z910DAB head unit that literally does everything except make you a cuppa as you set foot in the car. With phone mirroring, endless Android and Apple connectivity and so much more besides this is literally audio nirvana for the gizmo obsessed. It feeds a 5v pre-out signal to a quadruple bank of Pioneer amplifiers, a brace of subwoofer-specific mono sub amps then distributes the lows to a pair of Pioneer Champion series 12in subwoofers.
The mids and high range frequencies are dealt with by a duo of four channel amps that power a set of TS-Z65CHs in the front doors and TS-Z65Cs in the rear doors, so there’s ample oomph and frequency extension to get the party started if you fall within a mile or so radius of the car while the volume is ramped up.
The ST-2 interior remains largely as it should for the time being as, let’s face it, there’s no point messing with the hard work of Recaro, but a custom-trimmed armrest adds some extra class to an ambience so refined it’s difficult to make things that much better ergonomically or aesthetically. Nevertheless Ian plans on installing some Corbeau bucket seats in the not too distant future; he’s constantly evolving things!
Most of the hard work has been invested in performance, Ian sorting the chassis dynamics with a duo of Summit strut braces both fore and aft. This has allowed him to get a few track days under his belt and really test the limits of the ST to the max, yet he’s conscious that it remains a road car through and through, thanks to all of the toys that he’s managed to incorporate into the build.
Hence the colour changing LEDs that have been skilfully worked into split headlamps, they also run beneath the bonnet and across the chunky intercooler as well, so Ian can alternate the colour output using an app on his smartphone.
All in, it’s such a comprehensive build that just keeps on giving. As if the plate doesn’t give the game away immediately, the Blueprint wrap certainly does, and those bespoke Monkey Wrench headlights and squat wider arches point towards a car that blends extravagance with dogged performance perfectly.
Ian has created a seriously hot hatchback and as the bumper sticker so aptly points out it’s all about, ‘Life lessons through hot hatch domination’. Now, we’re not sure what that really means, but rest assured Ford-Mania will continue to test Ian and his nearest and dearest as things continue to grow, get busier and escalate all over the planet. His enthusiasm is infectious, his knowledge mega and with such a recognisable demo car things will only continue to get better, (he’s already fitted new Fifteen52 Delta wheels since the photos), and has some big plans for future mods to this already instantly-recognisable ST. In the meantime though, he’s just happy meeting cool people with cool cars, and what’s not to love about that?
“It’s such a comprehensive build that just keeps on giving”