GOODWOOD, Sussex, 2 July, 2014 – The New Ford Focus ST notched up a first victory hours after making its global debut by winning a unique ‘virtual versus real’ race.
The new model went head-to-head against a virtual Focus ST after Ford and Sony Computer Entertainment staged the first such race on the world-famous hill climb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Driven by former “Stig” Ben Collins, the real new Focus ST completed the 1.16-mile course just ahead of gamer Krisztian Somodi tackling the same course simultaneously on a Gran Turismo®6 PlayStation®3 simulator. Follow this link to watch the video of the race https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifVo-rjmvXs
“Racing the new Ford Focus ST against the virtual one was a first for me. I had no idea who was in the lead, so I was ecstatic when I realised I’d won,” Ben said. “The Focus ST has always been a great driver’s car but the new version is even more responsive and rewarding.”
The race was shown live on giant screens to tens of thousands at the festival, with visitors later able to set their own time on Gran Turismo 6 simulators on the Ford stand, where the first diesel-powered version of the new Focus ST was revealed by Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, and the creator of Gran Turismo®, Kazunori Yamauchi.
The game replicated the conditions and features on the day itself as closely as possible – right down to the tyres. That attention to detail made for a tight contest: the real Focus ST posted a time of 1min 5.13sec, with the virtual model only a tenth of a second behind, covering the climb in 1min 5.23sec.
“It was a very close race and such a buzz competing against a real car and driver,” said Somodi, a Polish graphic designer who is also a lifelong Gran Turismo fan. “The virtual Focus ST looks, feels and sounds just like the real thing. Gran Turismo 6 is very impressive.”
Images from the race are at http://bit.ly/FordFOS14 and new Focus information, images and videos at http://focusst.fordpresskits.com.
The new Focus ST is scheduled to be in UK dealerships from early 2015.
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 183,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 50,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 69,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (13 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 11 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
General Use
Gran Turismo®6 ©2014 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. “Polyphony Digital logo”, “Gran Turismo” and “GT” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Manufacturers, cars, names, brands and associated imagery featured in this game in some cases include trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their respective owners. Any depiction or recreation of real world locations, entities, businesses, or organisations is not intended to be or imply any sponsorship or endorsement of this game by such party or parties. All rights reserved.
On packaging
Gran Turismo®6 ©2014 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, 10 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7LP. Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. “Polyphony Digital logo”, “Gran Turismo” and “GT” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Manufacturers, cars, names, brands and associated imagery featured in this game in some cases include trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their respective owners. Any depiction or recreation of real world locations, entities, businesses, or organisations is not intended to be or imply any sponsorship or endorsement of this game by such party or parties. All rights reserved.
Better known as The Stig from BBC’s internationally acclaimed Top Gear TV Show. Ben coached hundreds of celebrities from Tom Cruise to Lionel Ritchie around the race-track, organised high voltage car chases and tested hundreds of priceless cars to the brink. Ben holds many credits: As a Championship Winning Le Mans Racecar Driver, Bestselling Author, TV Presenter, World Record Breaker and Hollywood Stunt Driver.
Kazunori Yamauchi is a Japanese game designer, professional racing driver, and President of Polyphony Digital Inc (PDI) and creator of the award winning Gran Turismo series. As a result of Gran Turismo's success, Yamauchi–san is nothing short of a superstar in the gaming world and has become an important figure in the worldwide automotive industry. On a video included with Gran Turismo®5 Prologue, Yamauchi remarked his favourite car design is the Ford GT and he owns two in real life.
