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Ford quell Mazda talk

Ford Team RS director Jost Capito has rubbished claims that their lack of works presence in next year's World Touring Car Championship is a cover-up for sister company Mazda entering the series in 2007

Team Hotfiel Sport entered four Focuses in the 2005 WTCC with works support from Ford, however the blue oval is now only supplying technical backing for the team to run as an independent entry.

This move has been questioned as to whether it signals an entry of Mazda in the series, but Captio says that it isn't the case, and that confusion has arisen over a separate privateer plan.

Capito told Autosprint: "Mazda can start its sports programmes in a totally independent way. But if they intended to do something in the WTCC, then they would have at least contacted me, but this hasn't happened.

"There is an external structure which has proposed a programme to Madza, but it only went that far, at the proposal stage. So, our current activity absolutely isn't about a cover up."

Capito added that he believes the Focus is competitive enough to be run by privateer entrants from now on.

"Team Hotfiel had the status of works team only because there was a direct effort in the development of the Focus on our part. But now, as I said before, we are convinced the car is competitive and private teams can go on by themselves."

"We've worked hard in developing the Focus, which will remain the car for at least two more seasons," he said.


"The car was entered in the WTCC by Team Hotfiel, but with a significant technical contribution from our side as far as development of the engine and suspensions, computing data and work in the wind tunnel are concerned. This is for the objective of making it tempting for sports customers."

"We're convinced the car competitive and the teams can manage it by themselves, also as far as further developments are concerned.

"Therefore we are in touch with various teams and drivers very interested in racing with it. We won't give them any financial support, but we'll intervene should there be technical problems."

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