[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/racetrack-report-ford-fiesta-st-ford-focus-st\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/racetrack-report-ford-fiesta-st-ford-focus-st\/","headline":"Racetrack report: Ford Fiesta ST & Ford Focus ST","name":"Racetrack report: Ford Fiesta ST & Ford Focus ST","description":"Two of Ford\u2019s fastest and finest handling STs hard-lapped around the quick and twisting Llandow racetrack, near Cardiff. Tyres died and high octane fuel was burned, all in the name of hardcore hot hatch testing. Fast road fans and track day heroes read on\u2026   Ford Focus ST The 247bhp Ford Focus ST has been with us for a few months now and while I\u2019ve had my fair share of fast-road-fun and a few hot laps at a test track […]","datePublished":"2013-04-24","dateModified":"2013-04-24","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/ST-29.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/ST-29.jpg","height":"383","width":"575"},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/racetrack-report-ford-fiesta-st-ford-focus-st\/","about":["Cars","Sports \/ Performance & Prestige cars","Sports, Performance & Prestige Cars"],"wordCount":928,"keywords":["Cardiff","ford","ford fiesta","ford focus","Llandow racetrack"],"articleBody":"Two of Ford\u2019s fastest and finest handling STs hard-lapped around the quick and twisting Llandow racetrack, near Cardiff. Tyres died and high octane fuel was burned, all in the name of hardcore hot hatch testing. Fast road fans and track day heroes read on\u2026 Ford Focus STThe 247bhp Ford Focus ST has been with us for a few months now and while I\u2019ve had my fair share of fast-road-fun and a few hot laps at a test track facility, yesterday, at the awesome little Llandow racetrack near Cardiff, I got my first taste of what the car can do over several consistent fast laps. In short, it\u2019s well up for it.With all safety electronics engaged \u2013 which is likely how most Focus ST drivers will mostly drive their cars \u2013 and it\u2019s quickly obvious after a few slightly ham-fisted corners (me, not the car), that anyone who likes a bit of motoring speed and excitement can jump in this ST and quickly go quick. And those with a bit more experience of driving fast \u2013 like me \u2013 will look and feel even quicker, thanks to the ST\u2019s user friendly design.The Focus ST\u2019s front end \u2013 that powers and steers the car \u2013 and its stability electronics, are all perfectly\u00a0synced\u00a0together and work seamlessly with the balanced chassis, powerful brakes and firmly controlled suspension. Go in to a corner too hot and the ST tidies up your mistake, without washing off too much speed, the way old stability control systems used to.Some understeer is still possible when pushing the car very hard through tighter bends, but this can be dealt with by a quick, hard dab on the brakes to put some weight, and therefore extra grip, on the front. This was my main driving mistake during my hot laps of Llandow, but with some racing driver instruction I got the front end better loaded before the sharper bends, and that helped the Focus really chew through the turns. Another very enjoyable engineered-in trait of this ST\u2019s chassis is the way \u2013 with the electronics still on \u2013 that the car lets you drift through the bends, going a little light at the rear; all controllable still with the steering.The ST\u2019s 2-litre, turbocharged engine makes good grunt \u2013 247bhp, 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds \u2013 which enabled me to get into fourth gear on both of Llandow\u2019s short straights, before braking very hard \u2013 with impressive stability \u2013 into tight bends at each end. After a few laps to get my eye in, I was\u00a0barreling\u00a0through these bends at some speed; feeling fast and safe, and never once losing control.The Ford Focus ST made me \u2013 an average driver with some fast car experience \u2013 look pretty darn good around this twisting little track \u2013 and I came back into the pits with a huge grin on my face every single time. Indeed, the old days of hot hatches needing a tight rein and a skilled driver to get the most out of them are long gone – anyone can go fast in this ST without fear of it trying to take nibbles of their posterior. Ford Fiesta STTwinkling under the Welsh spring sunshine in the Llandow pits was also a brace of new Fiesta STs, set too to be tested to the max around the track. Smaller, lighter (around 1,163kg with driver and fuel) but packing a touch less turbo punch than the Focus ST, the from-\u00a316,995 Fiesta ST is the new Ford hot hatch that\u2019s priced to compete. It\u2019s just gone on sale and Ford already has 1,000 orders to fill.Another EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine; a 1.6-litre this time, makes 180bhp in the Fiesta ST; powering the car to 62mph in 6.9 seconds and on to 137mph. Overtakers take note though, at full throttle the Fiesta ST gets a juicy overboost to 200bhp, making slow-traffic-dispatching a piece of cake.Down Llandow\u2019s straights and the Fiesta isn\u2019t quite as quick as the Focus, but its light and compact body means it\u2019ll thread through chicanes like a laser guided needle. The Fiesta chassis has long been the best of the supermini bunch, but now with added power, the Fiesta ST is surely the hot pick in this segment.A little less drifty than the Focus through the bends on this track, but with front end power and safety delivered by similar electronics, the Fiesta ST has a mostly similar on-track feel to the Focus ST. On the road they both feel very firm (but never crashy) and that firmness of suspension, lower ride height and thicker anti-roll bars, turn these focused road cars into respectable race cars. Testament to the build quality and engineering too that our ST track cars \u2013 entirely standard road cars \u2013 ripped it for lap after lap with only the tyres showing signs of abuse.The lithe Fiesta ST is a wedge-shaped chunk of fun on the track, and the same on your favourite back lanes. But, if I had to pick one of the two Ford ST models, I\u2019d go for the Focus; budget unrestricted, of course. It\u2019s that bit faster and I absolutely loved the way it would drift and dance through the bends, at frankly outrageous speeds. Saying that, if you’re in the market for something saucy this summer, I\u2019d heartily recommend a test drive in both. And when you\u2019ve bought one, get yourself down to Llandow and show it some of those brilliant bends! By Dan Anslow "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Sports Performance Prestige Cars","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Racetrack report: Ford Fiesta ST & Ford Focus ST","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/sports-performance-prestige-cars\/racetrack-report-ford-fiesta-st-ford-focus-st\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]