FORD LAUNCHES NEW WRC FIGHTER.(Competition)

Ford Rallye Sport's new Focus RS World Rally car makes its racing debut in New Zealand April 11-13, at the FIA World Rally Championship's fourth round. Ford officials say this new Focus RS, piloted by regular pairings Markko Martin and co-driver Michael Park, and Francois Duval and Stephane Prevot, is radically different from the car that competed in the series' first three rounds.

Technical director Christian Loriaux and his M-Sport team (M-Sport prepares Ford's rally cars) have included numerous changes. Among them: an aero package aimed at the faster rallies; a new rear suspension system; improved weight distribution; and a new engine developed and built by Cosworth Racing with better response, more top-end power and more efficient cooling.

This Focus RS has undergone thorough tests. ``I've only done the New Zealand rally once before, but I'm already a big fan,'' said Martin, fourth in the drivers' standings. ``I found the rally quite difficult last year, more tricky than I expected. But with the new car, I should have a better feel. It's important to have a well-balanced car on this rally, and that's one of the big areas the design team concentrated on.''

Team director Malcolm Wilson has high hopes for the new Focus RS. ``It looks sensational, but obviously looks are not everything,'' he said. ``Around 80 percent of this car is new, and so we must not become too concerned if we have problems in the early days. I know the potential is there for it to be a winner.''

Mercedes considers customer engines

Formula One engine supplier Mercedes-Benz is in talks with the Swiss Sauber team over a potential deal for the 2004 season.

Sauber entered F1 with Mercedes engines in 1995, but is now supplied by Ferrari, though the engines are rebadged by the team's Malaysian commercial partner Petronas. Word is that Mercedes will offer the engines at a price of $10 million per season, $20 million less than the Ferrari deal costs.