STUART BISSLAND MK3 FIESTA 4x4 EVO
Fiesta purists look away now! The silhouette of this car is unmistakeably a Mk3, but little remains of the 1.1-litre Popular it was originally based upon.
Built back in 2007 by DJM Motorsport as a 4WD track car with custom subframes and an engine bay designed to accept a Mitsubishi Evo 6 engine, Stuart Bissland successfully bought this unique and imposing track weapon as a rolling shell a few years ago.
“I’d been doing track days in a Clio turbo up until that point, but when I saw this advertised, I thought I’d have a bit of that,” Stuart smiled.
The well-executed DJM build includes a full-on custom bodykit, roll cage and subframes, offering a much wider track. And Stuart was keen to take advantage of its potential, fitting an Evo 6 2.3-litre stroker engine with new GBT turbo, which now produces a whopping 770bhp.
“It’s a very quick car and it’s great fun in the dry, but can be a nightmare when it’s wet,” Stuart laughed. “I enjoy it more than the Clio.”
Through the bends this lairy Mk3 was equally as quick as any other car out on track, but as soon as a long straight appeared, that 770bhp came into its own and the roar from the Evo powerplant and its twin side-exit exhausts was unmistakeable. We suspect Stuart may be on the lookout for tracks with even longer straights!
QUICK SPEC Custom racing bodykit and spoiler, 4WD conversion, Mitsubishi Evo 6 engine with 2.3-litre stroker kit, GBT turbo, custom subframes, Cusco diff, six-pot front callipers, four-pot rear callipers, Proflex three-way adjustable coilovers, Ikeya sequential gearbox, triple-plate clutch, DJM Motorsport cage, OMP steering wheel, fuel cell in rear, custom intercooler, bias pedal box, twin side-exit exhausts, Cobra bucket seats