Starting with the worst possible base he could find, Steve Carr’s track-focused modified Ford Focus RS Mk2 project represents a truly remarkable turnaround.
A Ford Focus RS Mk2 doesn’t usually come top of the list when choosing a base for a track car project, but experienced Ford fanatic Steve Carr knew the potential was there to be exploited. Complete with a wealth of full-on, no-expense-spared track mods, his latest 400bhp creation doesn’t disappoint.
Steve’s name should by now be familiar to regular Fast Ford readers – just last year it featured his Imperial Blue 500bhp EsCos which unsurprisingly turns heads wherever it goes.
Now, for most of us, an Escort Cosworth in your possession would be mission accomplished – but Steve isn’t one to rest on his laurels, turning his attention to a follow-up project without a second thought. But what could equal or even trump an Escort Cosworth? Surely Steve had already reached the pinnacle of Blue Oval ownership in most people’s eyes? In fact, he’d already made his way through a mouthwatering selection of cars including RS Turbos, Sierra Cosworths and a Mk1 Focus RS, not to mention a V10 Audi R8, Nissan GT-R and a string of Mitsubishi Evos, each one modified in some way to suit Steve’s own taste.
Low-mileage Ford Focus RS Mk2
Nestled among this enviable and varied list was an ultra-low-mileage Ford Focus RS Mk2, which Steve primarily used as his daily driver for a time. “It drove really well on the road, and I was tempted to see how it would cope on a track day,” he says. “It’s not the lightest car around so I wasn’t too confident how the day would go, but sometimes you just have to try these things!” Of all the circuits to use, it was the Nürburgring where that 17k-mile Focus RS experienced its first and possibly only track time: “I was pleasantly surprised,” Steve smiles. “The RS took to the demanding circuit really well and never missed a beat.”
After that memorable trip to Germany, thoughts then turned to a track-focused build using a Ford Focus RS Mk2. Steve’s no fool and, as you’ll already have guessed, the 17k-mile minter already in his ownership wasn’t about to be stripped out and fitted with a cage. “I’d sold that car and regretted letting it go instantly,” he recalls. “I went on the lookout for another RS, but this time it had to be the cheapest and worst example I could find!”
Sourcing the base Ford Focus RS Mk2
Searching for a bargain is nothing unusual, but we don’t often hear of people attempting to track down a really poor example on purpose. We should explain here, Steve works in the motor trade as a sprayer, also repairing accident-damaged vehicles, so he was quite happy to take on an RS most of us would run a mile from. And with no other takers, he soon found the ideal candidate, a 2010 Focus RS in Frozen White with a chequered history which included having been written off previously. “It hadn’t been looked after at all,” Steve laughs. “Even the repairs had been carried out badly.”
As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure – and as far as Steve was concerned, the neglected RS fitted the bill perfectly. “I stripped it out, fitted a Safety Devices rollcage and some Corbeau bucket seats,” he remembers, “then I booked a track day to find out what it could do.” Possibly hoping for a repeat performance of his successful Nürburgring trip, this first UK track day wouldn’t go quite to plan. “The engine soon had temperature issues and there was clutch slip along with a knocking noise,” Steve recalls. “This turned out to be a bottom end bearing which eventually let go, wiping out the crank in the process.”
Predictably, this was game over for the RS’s existing 2.5-litre 5-cylinder Duratec unit, but the mechanical nightmare at least gave Steve the perfect excuse to install a far superior replacement.
Modified Ford Focus RS Mk2 engine tuning
“The second engine had to be more dependable, with an increase in power too,” he says. “To resolve any potential cooling issues, I fitted an Airtec hard pipe kit, Roose Motorsport silicone hoses, Pro Alloy radiator and Pro Alloy intercooler.”
In his quest to extract more power, modifications continued with an Anembo inlet manifold, Wisbech Engineering crossover and a K&N induction kit, while the Milltek turbo-back exhaust is catalyst-free as Steve has no plans to drive this RS on the road. “I installed Bosch 550cc injectors, a Walbro fuel pump, Helix paddle clutch along with Hardrace engine and gearbox mounts,” he continues. “Once everything was in place, I had the engine mapped by GR Performance.” The result is a healthy 402bhp, a more than adequate figure in a stripped-out Focus RS and Steve was eager to find out how it would perform.
“I booked another track day at Cadwell Park,” he says, “and this time the Focus performed without a hitch, with no issues whatsoever.” This was more like it, and the positive experience prompted Steve to explore the array of other specialist track day components out there. “I began with a Garmin Catalyst so I could view my lap data and find out where the car or my driving could be improved,” he elaborates. “At the next track day, I really drove the wheels off the car until I was sure I couldn’t go any faster without fitting more upgrades.”
Modified Ford Focus RS Mk2 chassis upgrades
Fitting the Garmin to ascertain his own and the Focus’s weak points was certainly a sensible route to take, and Steve turned his attention towards chassis upgrades where he felt the standard setup was now letting the car down. “After some research, I settled on swapping to KW V3 coilovers and bigger brakes,” he points out. “I couldn’t resist adding a CAE shifter too.” Blyton Park became the test facility for these latest mods and the car performed without fault once again, with the bonus of improved lap times. “Before the winter of 2022 set in, I crammed in as many track days as my diary would allow, gaining experience all the time,” he says. “I found the AP 6-pot brakes performed best with Ferodo DS2500 pads and Motul 660 fluid.”
Steve’s track day addiction had by now gone into overdrive, and during the winter of 2022/23, he stripped the interior of what little remained, removing the sound deadening from the floor and behind the dash. “I re-powder-coated the rollcage and installed an AiM digital dash which now supplies all the necessary info I need,” he explains. “This sits where the standard clocks are normally housed and is easy to read through the OMP steering wheel.” While the Focus was lying in a dormant state, Powerflex polybushes were fitted all round which included front and rear camber bushes, and the Whiteline anti-lift kit is another wise investment.
Wheels and Tyres
There are many aftermarket wheels for the modified Ford Focus RS Mk2 out there, but Steve was keen to opt for an aggressive lightweight design which resulted in fitting these 18” Compomotive MO6s in satin black. Contrasting with the Frozen White paintwork and eye-catching Blueprint half-wrap which doubles as an advert for Steve’s RS Performance business, these timeless rims look right at home here. Once wrapped in Nankang AR-1 semi-slick tyres, they were almost ready for action with one final task to tick off the list first…
Steve had by now made some dramatic changes in comparison to the RS’s factory specification, which included fitting polycarbonate windows and lightweight doorcards. “I thought it best to have a full suspension and corner-weighting setup done to benefit from all the alterations I’d now carried out,” he adds.
Time Attack ready
We last hooked up with Steve shortly before his first track day this year, but by all accounts his ever-evolving Focus has been performing better than ever. “Once I’m confident I’ve reached the stage I’m fully happy with, I’ll be looking at entering a round of the Time Attack series,” he says. “I’ll keep doing the normal track days too, as I’ve been taking part in those since I was 19.”
Like so many other projects, we’re sure this modified Ford Focus RS Mk2 will continue to evolve in areas where Steve reckons there’s room for improvement; there’s already talk of extracting more power from the 2.5 engine. Will that perfect balance of handling and power be achieved? We’re guessing Steve’s not that fussed as long as he keeps having fun finding out!
Words and photos: Jon Cass.
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