Five-day Portugal test for Ford.
Ford Rallye Sport conducted its pre-event Rally Argentina test in Portugal last week, due to the ban on local testing before long-haul rallies.
The roads around Arganil and Ponte da Lima, traditional Rally of Portugal territory, were used during the five-day session at which Markko Martin, Francois Duval and test driver Mark Higgins all took the wheel.
Ford Rallye Sport conducted its pre-event Rally Argentina test in Portugal last week, due to the ban on local testing before long-haul rallies.
The roads around Arganil and Ponte da Lima, traditional Rally of Portugal territory, were used during the five-day session at which Markko Martin, Francois Duval and test driver Mark Higgins all took the wheel.
Heavy rain fell virtually throughout, which was perfect for simulating Rally Argentina's many river crossings but hindered efforts to perfect a dry gravel set-up for the event - almost 600km were completed by the three drivers.
Meanwhile modifications have been made to the new Focus' hydraulic system following the problems encountered by Martin and Duval in New Zealand. The improvements were tested in Portugal and technical director Christian Loriaux said he was "pleased with the work, which has increased the protection around the system".
