acceleration is best described as intense.
“Performance wise it’s an absolute animal,”
smiles Luke. “670bhp going to the front
wheels is always going to be a handful, but
the Syvecs ECU manages to keep everything
in line. From a standing launch, all the way
through to the redline in sixth, it keeps you
well and truly pinned in your seat. However,
turn down the boost a little and it sits back
and runs so smoothly; perfect for long
motorway drives - the best of both worlds.”
Key to the drivability of this Focus is
the Syvecs management. It’s a serious
investment and requires expert setting up,
but when it’s done well, it’s hard to beat. The
system offers almost limitless tuning, from
advanced launch control, to flat shift and
everyone’s favourite: anti-lag. Day-to-day,
the car drives perfectly well, with no real
sense that it has such power. It’s only when
Luke gives it some heavy right boot, that
you realise this is properly quick. To give me
a demonstration, he nails it from a rolling
start, and the immaculate blue RS squats
slightly, before launching down the road.
There’s an angry rasp from the exhaust,
followed a loud bang as the anti-lag kicks
in. It certainly raises a few eyebrows on this
quiet industrial estate – including one chap
in an Aston Martin Rapide, who appears a
little put out that he isn’t centre of attention
and launches past us in response. The V12
sounds fantastic, but it wouldn’t stand a
chance against this RS.
When it came to the exterior, Luke wanted
to do things a bit differently and to his own
tastes. It’s easy to get swept along and just
follow what others have done, so full marks
to him for doing his own thing.
The ACR Composites bumpers are a big
feature of this car and certainly give the RS
a very purposeful look. The front includes
Zunsport grilles without a Blue Oval, which
makes people look twice, while the rear is
even more of a talking point.
“The single-exit exhaust seems to confuse
a lot of people and I’ve heard so many of
them asking their mates if they reckon it’s
an ST or an event lower-spec model, but
I’m quick to jump in and assure them it’s a
genuine RS!” laughs Luke. It was this unique
touch which required a custom exhaust
and Devil Developments created a full 3.5in
system including downpipe.
The exterior is what initially caught my
eye, specifically the ultra-glossy paintwork,
so it’s no surprise to discover that the car
had a full exterior respray, when the ACR
Composites bumpers were fitted.
“Advanced Auto Accident Repair are
just a stone’s throw from my house and
after working there for a couple of years, I
knew there was nobody else I would want
to lay hands on my car more than them.
Once they’d sourced the bumpers, they
had the car for three weeks to complete
a full exterior repaint,” says Luke. The
outside is finished off with some coolDRIVER SPECLUKE JONES
AGE 27
JOB Production operative for
Jaguar Land Rover
FIRST FORD Mk4 Escort 1.1
Popular
BEST MODIFICATION Has to
be the Syvecs ECU alongside
the screamer pipe
FAVOURITE FORD SHOW OR
EVENT? Ford Fair, although
I’m yet to do the IOW Takeover
TRACK DAY OR SHOW &
SHINE? Show and shine
SIERRA RS500 OR FOCUS
RS500? Sierra
WRC OR BTCC? BTCC
LESSONS LEARNT FROM
THIS PROJECT? Don’t rush
into things; stockpile quality
parts and fit all at once. Do the
job once rather than changing
things week after week
WHAT’S NEXT A full roll cage,
underside restoration, interior
trimming, rear lights from
MonkeyWrench and engine
bay dress up pieces
THANKS Alan Farmer of
Pumabuild for building the
engine, Lee Charnick of Devil
Developments for setting
everything up, all the guys
at Advanced Auto Accident
Repair for taking care of the
paintwork, James Allen for
getting hold of the bumpers
and grilles, James Hunter
of MonkeyWrench Bespoke
for the headlights and other
goodies, and Johnny B
Detailing for keeping it clean.“Performance wise it’s an
absolute animal. 670bhp
going to the front wheels is
always going to be a
handful, but the Syvecs
ECU manages to keep
everything in line...”
FOCUS RS MK2ѳѰ FAS T FOR D SEPTEMBER 2019acceleration is best described as intense.
“Performance wise it’s an absolute animal,”
smiles Luke. “670bhp going to the front
wheels is always going to be a handful, but
the Syvecs ECU manages to keep everything
in line. From a standing launch, all the way
through to the redline in sixth, it keeps you
well and truly pinned in your seat. However,
turn down the boost a little and it sits back
and runs so smoothly; perfect for long
motorway drives - the best of both worlds.”
Key to the drivability of this Focus is
the Syvecs management. It’s a serious
investment and requires expert setting up,
but when it’s done well, it’s hard to beat. The
system offers almost limitless tuning, from
advanced launch control, to flat shift and
everyone’s favourite: anti-lag. Day-to-day,
the car drives perfectly well, with no real
sense that it has such power. It’s only when
Luke gives it some heavy right boot, that
you realise this is properly quick. To give me
a demonstration, he nails it from a rolling
start, and the immaculate blue RS squats
slightly, before launching down the road.
There’s an angry rasp from the exhaust,
followed a loud bang as the anti-lag kicks
in. It certainly raises a few eyebrows on this
quiet industrial estate – including one chap
in an Aston Martin Rapide, who appears a
little put out that he isn’t centre of attention
and launches past us in response. The V12
sounds fantastic, but it wouldn’t stand a
chance against this RS.
When it came to the exterior, Luke wanted
to do things a bit differently and to his own
tastes. It’s easy to get swept along and just
follow what others have done, so full marks
to him for doing his own thing.
The ACR Composites bumpers are a big
feature of this car and certainly give the RS
a very purposeful look. The front includes
Zunsport grilles without a Blue Oval, which
makes people look twice, while the rear is
even more of a talking point.
“The single-exit exhaust seems to confuse
a lot of people and I’ve heard so many of
them asking their mates if they reckon it’s
an ST or an event lower-spec model, but
I’m quick to jump in and assure them it’s a
genuine RS!” laughs Luke. It was this unique
touch which required a custom exhaust
and Devil Developments created a full 3.5in
system including downpipe.
The exterior is what initially caught my
eye, specifically the ultra-glossy paintwork,
so it’s no surprise to discover that the car
had a full exterior respray, when the ACR
Composites bumpers were fitted.
“Advanced Auto Accident Repair are
just a stone’s throw from my house and
after working there for a couple of years, I
knew there was nobody else I would want
to lay hands on my car more than them.
Once they’d sourced the bumpers, they
had the car for three weeks to complete
a full exterior repaint,” says Luke. The
outside is finished off with some coolDRIVER SPECLUKE JONES
AGE 27
JOB Production operative for
Jaguar Land Rover
FIRST FORD Mk4 Escort 1.1
Popular
BEST MODIFICATION Has to
be the Syvecs ECU alongside
the screamer pipe
FAVOURITE FORD SHOW OR
EVENT? Ford Fair, although
I’m yet to do the IOW Takeover
TRACK DAY OR SHOW &
SHINE? Show and shine
SIERRA RS500 OR FOCUS
RS500? Sierra
WRC OR BTCC? BTCC
LESSONS LEARNT FROM
THIS PROJECT? Don’t rush
into things; stockpile quality
parts and fit all at once. Do the
job once rather than changing
things week after week
WHAT’S NEXT A full roll cage,
underside restoration, interior
trimming, rear lights from
MonkeyWrench and engine
bay dress up pieces
THANKS Alan Farmer of
Pumabuild for building the
engine, Lee Charnick of Devil
Developments for setting
everything up, all the guys
at Advanced Auto Accident
Repair for taking care of the
paintwork, James Allen for
getting hold of the bumpers
and grilles, James Hunter
of MonkeyWrench Bespoke
for the headlights and other
goodies, and Johnny B
Detailing for keeping it clean.“Performance wise it’s an
absolute animal. 670bhp
going to the front wheels is
always going to be a
handful, but the Syvecs
ECU manages to keep
everything in line...”
FOCUS RS MK2ѳѰ FAS T FOR D SEPTEMBER 2019