Ford Fiesta R2
Number Plates:
PX59 AUF > MCT479
Driver/Ownership:
2010 - 2017: Abu Dhabi Tourism
2010: Sultan Al-Ameri
2017 - 2018: Derek McGarity
2019 - 2022: Tim Mackersy
2022: Andy Martin
2022 - Current: Daph O'Rourke
History:
The Abu Dhabi brand has appeared on several topflight rally teams over the years, with factory support for Ford / M-Sport and more recently being involved in the Citroen World Rally Team. Along with their factory support there was also a development program put in place to create a WRC star out of the UAE capital. The programme started in the Middle East with Group N Subaru Impreza’s. In 2008 the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority became Ford M-Sport WRC’s title sponsor with their junior program also moving initially over to M-Sport run ST150 Fiesta’s.
Three Abu Dhabi R2 Fiesta’s first appeared in the 2010 edition of Rally Portugal, the sixth round of that years WRC season. This car PX59 AUF (MCT479 – NZ Rego) was assigned to Sultan Al-Ameri and experienced Irish co-driver Killian Duffy for the season. However, the car and their season did not get off to a good start rolling into retirement on the opening stage on day two. The cars next appearance and only rally finish in Europe came on the tarmac of Rally Moscato an Italian championship round finishing third in class. The final European rally appearance of this car came in Rally Finland which was a difficult rally for the crew and junior team. Somewhat off the pace but climbing the leader board through attrition, Al-Ameri suffered extensive front-end damage to his car on route to SS10, after crashing into the back of his team-mate Al-Jabri on the busy road section! Fortunately, it did not cost him any time, remaining in seventh position. Day 2 and the dramas continued however, with Al-Ameri clipping a tyre during SS16 which forced the young Emirate to retire from the rally. There would be no more events for the Abu Dhabi team in this car, eventually making its way over to Ireland along with one of the sister Abu Dhabi Fiesta R2’s.
In 2019, the two ex Abu Dhabi cars were imported into New Zealand, with this car being used by Tim Mackersy in Mainland events, run by the M-Developments team based out of Queenstown. The other car would eventually end up being in a significant accident at Rally Otago in 2021 with Harri Judd. With a few events under his belt, Tim Mackersy would continue to show improvements, battling hard in Class B of the Mainland Series. 2021 Rally Otago was a significant milestone, claiming Class B honours in his first attempt at the event.
With other endeavours on the horizon for Mackersy and the M-Developments team, the car was put up for sale and has been acquired by Andy Martin whilst waiting for his VW Polo R5 to arrive from Europe. Martin, would use the car in the 1st two rallies of the season and then again in club events based around the Bay of Plenty where he resides.
At the end of 2022, the car was sold to Daph O'Rourke.
PX59 AUF > MCT479
Driver/Ownership:
2010 - 2017: Abu Dhabi Tourism
2010: Sultan Al-Ameri
2017 - 2018: Derek McGarity
2019 - 2022: Tim Mackersy
2022: Andy Martin
2022 - Current: Daph O'Rourke
History:
The Abu Dhabi brand has appeared on several topflight rally teams over the years, with factory support for Ford / M-Sport and more recently being involved in the Citroen World Rally Team. Along with their factory support there was also a development program put in place to create a WRC star out of the UAE capital. The programme started in the Middle East with Group N Subaru Impreza’s. In 2008 the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority became Ford M-Sport WRC’s title sponsor with their junior program also moving initially over to M-Sport run ST150 Fiesta’s.
Three Abu Dhabi R2 Fiesta’s first appeared in the 2010 edition of Rally Portugal, the sixth round of that years WRC season. This car PX59 AUF (MCT479 – NZ Rego) was assigned to Sultan Al-Ameri and experienced Irish co-driver Killian Duffy for the season. However, the car and their season did not get off to a good start rolling into retirement on the opening stage on day two. The cars next appearance and only rally finish in Europe came on the tarmac of Rally Moscato an Italian championship round finishing third in class. The final European rally appearance of this car came in Rally Finland which was a difficult rally for the crew and junior team. Somewhat off the pace but climbing the leader board through attrition, Al-Ameri suffered extensive front-end damage to his car on route to SS10, after crashing into the back of his team-mate Al-Jabri on the busy road section! Fortunately, it did not cost him any time, remaining in seventh position. Day 2 and the dramas continued however, with Al-Ameri clipping a tyre during SS16 which forced the young Emirate to retire from the rally. There would be no more events for the Abu Dhabi team in this car, eventually making its way over to Ireland along with one of the sister Abu Dhabi Fiesta R2’s.
In 2019, the two ex Abu Dhabi cars were imported into New Zealand, with this car being used by Tim Mackersy in Mainland events, run by the M-Developments team based out of Queenstown. The other car would eventually end up being in a significant accident at Rally Otago in 2021 with Harri Judd. With a few events under his belt, Tim Mackersy would continue to show improvements, battling hard in Class B of the Mainland Series. 2021 Rally Otago was a significant milestone, claiming Class B honours in his first attempt at the event.
With other endeavours on the horizon for Mackersy and the M-Developments team, the car was put up for sale and has been acquired by Andy Martin whilst waiting for his VW Polo R5 to arrive from Europe. Martin, would use the car in the 1st two rallies of the season and then again in club events based around the Bay of Plenty where he resides.
At the end of 2022, the car was sold to Daph O'Rourke.
