Dutch-Italian Rallycross “veteran” Jos Kuijpers has tested his all-new Ford Focus Mk3 SuperCar for the first time at his home Eurocircuit track in Valkenswaard.

Today Jos Kuijpers had a shake-down test with his all-new Ford Focus Mk3 SuperCar at the Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard. Although the circumstances were all but optimal, due to a moisty and cold track, the 54 years old driver from Best near Eindhoven in Holland was satisfied with the test, in which the team checked if all the systems in the car were working perfectly. Important for Kuijpers, as the car will have his first outing at the Duivelsbergcircuit in Maasmechelen this Sunday, where reigning champion Kuijpers will defend his International Belgian Rallycross Championship title.

The SuperCar driver is very happy with his new machinery, which took his team more than a year to build. The Focus Mk3 has a 14cm longer wheel-base than the previous Fiesta Mk7. The 2012 car will be campaigned by Belgian Patrick Van Mechelen this season. Together with a 6cm wider track the change of the Ford models resulted in a less nervous car for Kuijpers.

One of the strongest points of the new car is the high-torque motor: “There is so much power at low revs, I really do not need to use more than 5500rpm with this engine.” The latest Focus has also another improvement, the passenger compartment is much bigger than in the Fiesta. “I can even put my helmet and HANS system on inside the car, something I could not do in the previous one. See, it is just an easy to use car for an elder gentleman”, says “Giuseppe” with a big grin on his face.

Photo: “An easy to use car for the elderly”, is the new Ford Focus Mk3 SuperCar of Jos Kuijpers. © TRC/ERC24