Ford earlier this week announced that their new 2011 Ford Focus will be made readily available to many privateer teams across many of the touring car platforms worldwide, including the BTCC.

In a statement from Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, Ford stated that “The first race appearance for the Focus is targeted for the 2011 British Touring Car Championship and will conform to FIA Super 2000 regulations with potential to adopt to other regulations.”

“There has been tremendous interest from the racing world about the new Focus, and it’s the perfect fit for a global touring car,” said Jost Capito, director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsports Business Development. “Even more, by working with professional private race teams, we’re ensuring Focus has the support it needs to compete and win.”

The news that the are open to adaptations bodes well for the British Touring Car Championship with the series going through a transition period into the Next Generation Touring Car specifications.

Ford were re-introduced into the BTCC in 2009 when Mike Earle and his Arena Motorsport Team entered two Ford Focus ST’s into the mix after over a decade absence and last season took seven victories and six pole positions in a season which saw Tom Chilton take the Independents Championship. Ford have been a formidable feature to the series winning 10 championships and 219 races since 1959.

Photo Credit: Ford Media

James Mappin is the editor-in-chief covering the British Touring Car Championship. You can contact him at james@btcccrazy.co.uk, on twitter @BTCCCrazy or on his personal twitter account @jamesmappin.