Driving The Mk1 Ford Focus WRC and RS: Two Rally and Road Legends

Driving The Mk1 Ford Focus WRC and RS: Two Rally and Road Legends | Henry Catchpole

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Күн бұрын

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@HenryCatchpole 2 ай бұрын

Really glad everyone seems to be enjoying this - thank you for all the lovely comments. A huge thank you to Girardo & Co for trusting me with the WRC car (and letting me drive it properly on a proper bit of narrow rally stage). If you want more stories about Colin and this era of Focus then The Real Mcrae is a great read (it's where the Luis Moya story came from). Finally, thank you to Hagerty for letting me tell these stories and make these films - it would be all too easy to say that we should just stick to stuff that will definitely appease an algorithm. Please do give it a share if you can.

@charlesshamseldin9555 2 ай бұрын

@@HenryCatchpole this is one of my favorite videos of yours ever. Along with the amazing Porsche video you did for Evo in Majorca which is GOAT. Keep up the great work!

@mitchellmusuraca3875 2 ай бұрын

You are the best automotive journalist.

@Peginafication 2 ай бұрын

@HenryCatchpole great video as usual! Unrelated - do you still have the 182?

@HenryCatchpole 2 ай бұрын

@@Peginafication Thank you and yes, I do! It's still my everyday car.

@Peginafication 2 ай бұрын

@@HenryCatchpole that's just amazing. Enjoy her and thank you for replying! Would be awesome if you made another video involving the 182. It brings us RenaultSport tragics a great deal of joy knowing you drive one 😅 Much love

@RandyRodgirth 2 ай бұрын

My man Catchpole giving it some in a rally car, while describing it perfectly for our entertainment, without missing a beat. What a legend.

@JurekBogdanowicz 2 ай бұрын

@@RandyRodgirth he could be his own codriver and save 70kg🤣

@odysseusfellowes2582 2 ай бұрын

@@JurekBogdanowicz 😆

@ravim111 2 ай бұрын

Driving at full tilt & the commentary. Amazing indeed!

@JonathanTravers Ай бұрын

Henry is the man 👍

@mitchell-wallisforce7859 2 ай бұрын

This. The Maturo Stradale. The Delta S4. The Prodrive P25. The Kimera Evo37. Hagerty really gave Catchpole and his crew a seemingly significant budget and their own series of videos just so he could spend about half his waking existence talking to us about rally cars. No, I am absolutely not complaining.

@D3V1NF5 2 ай бұрын

The transition at the end between the sound of the rally car hes driving to the sound of the same car 20+ years ago was perfect. Well done Hagerty.

@martinweston8147 2 ай бұрын

Reminds me of the thousands of hours I spent playing Colin McRae Rally 2.0, I always went for the Focus as it looked the best in the game.

@benreifhardt4471 2 ай бұрын

The focus in the wet on the Japanese stage Shinshushinmachi... I must have done that stage a thousand times in that car.

@maxtorque2277 2 ай бұрын

Not a lot of people know that actually, another name now more famous for another amazing car, was closely associated with the road going RS, that of Neil Briggs, now of BAC Mono Fame! I was lucky enough to be part of the small team of extremely clever, dedicated and sometimes rather un-ruly engineers that developed the RS Mk1 for Ford, as well as being involved with the Wrc version for Msport and Cosworth too. It was often hard, long working hours with difficult deadlines and descisions, but i look back on it now understanding that it was in fact "The glory days" of UK automotive engineering. I've still got the gear lever badge and Log book for one of the prototype road RS's that was of course crushed at the end of the project (CP6 Confirmation Prototype 6) on the shelf above my desk... 🙂

@demonstructie 2 ай бұрын

That mk1 Focus RS is an automotive design masterclass.

@jamesmitchell7185 2 ай бұрын

This guy produces the best car videos on the internet. Every single one ive watched is an absolute gem.

@michaelkenny4124 Ай бұрын

My only issue with this era of rally is that I didn't realise we were in a golden era until it was over. Magical.

@mustermannmax5445 2 ай бұрын

Reminds me of the good old times with Richard Burns, Marcus Grönholm, Petter Solberg and Colin McRae.👍

@lucwilson1 2 ай бұрын

Golden era for me

@howarddavies136 2 ай бұрын

What a time that was. My recollection of rhat era was Burns being cool and collected, McRae being all or nothing, solberg with flashes of brilliance but inconsistent and Gronholm just being constantly angry at the car, at McRae, at everything. They were the best looking cars, too. The two door impreza, hell even the bug eye looked good in rally trim, but this focus in this livery is one of the best looking rally cars for me.

@AntoniusTyas 2 ай бұрын

Gronholm, Burns, both McRaes, Solberg brothers, Makinen, Rovanpera sr., Sainz sr., Schwarz, Eriksson, Delecour, Martin, Lindholm, Panizzi... ah, those days of rallying. It was not F1 for me back then. It was WRC.

@Miggy2j 2 ай бұрын

The best era of any motorsport for me

@mizanzack2485 2 ай бұрын

There's no word can be describe what Henry and crews do. World class commentary, cinematography, sound engineering (choices of track is madness, mastering, etc). Everything is perfect 100%.

@SamGale Ай бұрын

I'm a video producer by trade and I fully understand the time (and money) it takes to craft these mini-documentaries but also the love it needs too. In a time where the cheaper option often prevails, it's content like this that stands out above the rest. The storytelling is absolutely on point and what a great glimpse into the history of the car, sport and team. Really well done guys.

@niekumata8782 2 ай бұрын

This episode is just beautifully shot, a true love letter to the Mk1

@lorddoobsworth144 2 ай бұрын

that shot at the very end of the countryside and the car howling away was great 🥲

@deancostello14 Ай бұрын

This car basically got me into the WRC. I remember getting a PlayStation magazine with screen shots of the upcoming Colin McRae Rally 2.0 and screen shots of this car all over it. That game was all I wanted for Christmas, and played on it for nearly a decade until my PS1 finally died. The disc is probably still inside of it wherever the console is these days.

@handbrakebob Ай бұрын

The St Gwynno onboard is the best motorsport video I've ever seen. The commitment and skill are off the charts. Also, the between-the-seats camera angle works so well - why isn't it used anymore in the WRC?

@GalleryofSpeed-yd9zy 2 ай бұрын

Watching this rally video really gets my heart pumping.

@kivanccelik51 2 ай бұрын

This exact car was my poster car through my entire childhood. This car means so much to me, beyond figures and WRC stats, it's almost like I was born for adoring it. And God gave me a Catchpole's Hagerty video of that car and its gorgeous road sister, in 4K with beautiful cinematography. I mean, I really coulnd't ask for more from the internet, this is enough to make me cry. Wish I could like this a hundred times.

@jasonpeng6767 2 ай бұрын

I was a huge Subaru and Mitsubishi (mainly a Tommi) fan growing up in the 90s watching rally. I remember when the Focus WRC debuted..that car looked gorgeous! We never got the Mark 1 RS here in North America but I would still think of the WRC car everytime I see a normal one around the city! RIP Colin..

@Hamish1968 Ай бұрын

I was one of those ten, the only CAD designer in the group so every drawing for the ‘99 car had my name on. Great to see you enjoying this and to see the old Millbrook footage too. Thank you!

@MarksRandomVideos Ай бұрын

Beautiful lens/camera setup and stabilisation with perfect motion blur and a real feeling of speed in your onboard footage :)

@Arnechk 2 ай бұрын

Thank you, Mr. Catchpole, for this wonderful "review". 1995-2005 were the best years of motorsport image, it just got really professional while retaining the a hint of the "garage band" feeling.

@briansteele2723 2 ай бұрын

Even driving a basic rental focus of that era around the French Alps I loved the looks and handling and the design has aged very well. Ah when cars fitted onto the roads well,...the good old days!

@anastasisgeorgopoulos3754 2 ай бұрын

Hats off to everyone involved on that video and especially Henry. One of the greatest pieces of automotive journalism, while the production is on another level. Thank you for everything Henry, and please keep these special-themed videos coming. This is one of those videos that i am going to watch more than a couple of times for sure.

@Modi_ 2 ай бұрын

Crying at the end of a ford focus review wasnt in my bingo cards for today... As a 25 year old who grew up in a rallying family playing colin mcrae rally 2.0, colin was my hero, even as a finn and obiviously as a grönholm fan i still always hoped colin would do well. RIP

@fale23 2 ай бұрын

Luis Moya is a legend in Spain. Beautiful words, amazing video.

@sibucknell 2 ай бұрын

The BEST rally car ever, hands down. I remember waiting for Colin to enter view full broadside on the Network Q rally, only to be followed by fans setting off fireworks… I was a very young lad then, but Colin was and still is my hero, and those times left a lasting mark, and now, I have finally landed my dream car, a full rally mk1 focus with all of the right bits.. Can’t wait to get it build and get out competing. Thank you for such an epic piece of work sir.

@bzilla-d4i Ай бұрын

It was a great car, but greatest has to go to the Delta Integrale, that won 6 titles, this has 2.

@johnsim3722 2 ай бұрын

Respect. Absolute and total respect for your driving! McRae's death, and why, hurt all of us in Scotland who follows any type of motorsport. He really was a hero to us.

@paultucker1272 2 ай бұрын

Henry Catchpole and team.......keep doing what you're doing as nobody does it better. Quite simply outstanding content!

@tomhyde7728 2 ай бұрын

The through the gatepost ‘dear god’ Ari Vatenen reference was sheer automotive geekery. Brilliant!

@legone 2 ай бұрын

You are incredible. Some stories like this are just ... what needs to go in the history books. If we need to remember something of this era in a thousand years, I think we should choose your stories. Nothing reflects it better. Thank you Henry

@JordieMotive97 2 ай бұрын

Incredible video. Henry's driving while commentating is so much harder to do than it looks, and the MK1 Focus has always been a car I've had in my heart since a very young age. I love my JDM cars but I've always had a Ford Focus in my family since birth. I have an uncle who worked for Ford and had Cosworth demo cars on his drive at times and I always thought they were so cool!

@gatostudio972 2 ай бұрын

Oh man, I´ve been waiting years for this! Great hommage and exactly the reason why I own a Mk1 RS myself. That rallycar in the hands of Colin was out of this world. Every time I take my car out he pops into my head and I think about the glorious moments he gave us.

@Al-of3zp 2 ай бұрын

21:56 that fade into the WRC car is pure class!

@justdriveit7434 2 ай бұрын

Maybe the best KZbin channel on Documentary-Movie content on KZbin!!Congratulations Hagerty absolutely entertaining video!!!Worth watching every second!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@stephenmajokdedut5547 2 ай бұрын

A few years ago, I casually mentioned on X (formerly Twitter) how fantastic it would be to see Henry Catchpole and Jason Camisa working with Hagerty. While Jason was already with Hagerty, I never imagined this would become a reality. It feels like a dream come true.

@__a_4444 2 ай бұрын

Catchpole presents another masterpiece. Bravo.

@R8andGT3Fan 2 ай бұрын

What a video! 😍 Still my favourite looking Focus ever...MK1 rules!

@charlesshamseldin9555 2 ай бұрын

The mk1 focus are extremely underrated drivers cars.

@istvanlorinczi2817 2 ай бұрын

Have a rotted out 1.8 TDDI wagon, and it's still a pretty fun car for what it is

@jasonmillington4344 2 ай бұрын

I have the st170 and is a joy to get in and drive. Newer cars are faster with more power, but the joy of something on the edge is perfection

@charlesshamseldin9555 2 ай бұрын

@@jasonmillington4344 lift off throttle playfulness is a thing with these for sure. Very nuanced steering and overall handling feel.

@devintacheny87 2 ай бұрын

@@jasonmillington4344 I have an svt focus, same car. couldnt agree more

@beaushepard290 2 ай бұрын

2005 zx5 5speed currently. I've had several and driven everything from the saleen to a auto sedan I got jokingly when I was 16.. they just do so many things good.. it's a cheap, fun, reliable car.

@bigphilswheels 2 ай бұрын

A masterpiece! What an amazing video. The culmination of Catchpole, Mcrae, RPJ and the Mk1 Focus was mesmerising. That era of rallying,will never be repeated again. Brought back so many memories of watching it and playing it, being Mcrae in the RAC rally! More of this please Henry.👍👍

@deganellis 2 ай бұрын

Who needs a co-driver when you have Henry!? Epic cinematography, epic skills!

@TheTwilightBong 2 ай бұрын

The RS, in blue, with those OZ in white, is just a special car. I don't know, it's...timeless simple beauty.

@marcopalo408 2 ай бұрын

So jealous 🤤 I love my MK1, still regularly daily driving it

@seeni007 Ай бұрын

This is a superb tribute to MK1 Ford Focus rally car and to the drivers who drove it. thank you

@rebekahwest1029 2 ай бұрын

The best thing iv seen on KZbin for a long long time because its 2 of my favourite things, the ford focus and collin mcrea. Rip the ford focus but more rest in peace Colin mcrea.

@TedSchoenling 2 ай бұрын

loved watching WRC back then.. was a huge fan of Markko Martin and the Focus WRC

@AntoniusTyas 2 ай бұрын

Oh man, Markko. You see him, and you thought he'd be reserved and calm behind the wheel. And then you see him driving on the stage and that guy is easily as quick as Marcus or Petter. Really gutted when he announced his retirement out of bereavement after losing Beef in 2005 Wales Rally GB. That tragedy made me hate the 307WRC a lot.

@faxestoberlin 2 ай бұрын

The Mk1 Focus is the best hatchback ever made imo. Sold like the Corolla and the ST170 and RS are two of the best hot hatches ever made. What a car.

@ThomasFoudoulis 2 ай бұрын

Hagerty, Henry and Rally cars, just go hand in hand together. Another absolute banger of a video!

@mpow3r972 2 ай бұрын

Hagerty, thank you. Where these other big automotive KZbin channels can alot of times be a flash in the pan.... Your content is without equal. Thank you for bringing this amazing content to us, from Barn Find Hunter, to Capturing Car Culture, to Henry, to Cammisa you have created a powerhouse of content we savor.

@chrismannik 2 ай бұрын

Superb episode! I really love Henry’s commentary while driving.

@kostassfitis4424 2 ай бұрын

I own one and watching such a nostalgic video of this great era gives me the chills. Actually being from Greece and hearing untold Acropolis stories makes it even greater! We need more from that era

@ronniet906 2 ай бұрын

Whoo, I got the chills watching this, especially your closing statement. Thanks Henry.

@martinmees878 2 ай бұрын

Thank you Henry for your acknowledgement of RPJ. He was the common thread in so many great cars and a lovely man too by all accounts.

@keefr22 Ай бұрын

That was brilliant! Been laid up with flu for over a week and so binge watching rally car films to cheer myself up - & that was one of the best I've seen - thanks for really brightening the day! Keith

@BKStmo 2 ай бұрын

Omg, those roads, those walls, those gates, that car… so many hours spent playing Colin McRae rally 3, 20 years ago…

@vyrnmn 2 ай бұрын

I'll never forget reading about the Mk1 RS years ago, in relation to it's sometimes tricky front diff, and how the journalist writing about it described how it had a tendency to "torque steer like a Saab Viggen with one flat tyre"

@howarddavies136 2 ай бұрын

Chris Harris did an interesting video many years ago in a mk1 Focus RS, showing how to left foot brke on corner exit to manipulate the front axle into giving better traction on the way out of the corner. It's an interesting watch. I think it was in his autocar days.

@benreifhardt4471 2 ай бұрын

As an owner of a barebones mark 1 focus zx3 I was very surprised how good it truly is. It feels so good to drive. It's very well balanced and even with 200k miles on the clock it still feels quite good. I used to own a 2015 fiesta and that car was good and they are quite similar but the old focus is just better.

@scottgray92 2 ай бұрын

Brilliant as always Henry. That sense of speed from the nose camera is incredible, and the cinematography is top notch as usual.

@bunnys1980 2 ай бұрын

Great, now I want to fully restore my 2003 1.6 3d Not a wise thing to do economically, but that video reminded me how much I still love my car. And that's EXACTLY the reason I bought it knew back in 2003. It's WRC pedigree. Amazing. And of course I was a Colin McRae fan. Oh I can't sell it....

@SPGT3 2 ай бұрын

One of the greatest rally cars of all time. Thank you for this video.

@colinmcmillan2642 2 ай бұрын

Thank you Henry - that was hair on the back of the neck raisingly brilliant! I live about 30 miles from Lanark and always associate Colin with Scoobys as thats what everyone ran around in but that footage at the end was just genius. You are a master at conveying the emotion of what it means to be a petrolhead.

@ForTheLoveOfRally 2 ай бұрын

This is the content we need more of on this platform. Love it!

@markdance574 2 ай бұрын

As always Henry and Hagerty deliver a fine piece of entertainment

@maggotpudding 2 ай бұрын

This is part of youtube I play on my computer and on my phone at the same time just to get views up. Utterly brilliant execution on the video and some proper motorcars displayed.

@angusmackay7281 Ай бұрын

Another wonderful piece, thanks Henry and team. The original Focus was an outstanding car.

@TheTsaqif Ай бұрын

With the last episode of the Grand Tour special, i see the end of an era where the legendary trio finally steps down. But in their place, many promising presenters started to shine through, like henry with his technical knowledge and sophisticated taste just like may, camissa with his passion and energy towards cars just like clarkson, etc. Don't get me wrong I'm not comparing which one are better because you're all great at doing your own things, i'm just glad that the trio's spirit for an entertaining and excellent car journalism lives on in this generation. Also I've been a fan since your carfection era, great work Henry, rooting for your success👏👏

@flat4- 2 ай бұрын

Thank you Henry for another amazing piece of video. I love your articles, video's and driving style ! Thanks !!! The St GWynno stage footage is here mandatory monthly viewed a few times.... ultimate car control....

@Miggy2j 2 ай бұрын

Brilliant!!!!! This was also a hero car of mine growing up

@lutherblissett9070 2 ай бұрын

For me it's Colin drifting the Focus around St Wendel in 2002. Great memory.

@DayumSonny 2 ай бұрын

13:35 That's a desktop wallpaper-worthy shot.🤌🤌🤌

@jakewilson6150 2 ай бұрын

Fantastic piece of work and I’m all up for more rally content!!

@HiroshimaSpirit 2 ай бұрын

A Mk1 Focus WRC is THE rally car for me. What an iconic machine!

@damianmackinlay 2 ай бұрын

Peak WRC Focus right there. Love your videos as always Henry. Keep telling these stories.

@regfenster 2 ай бұрын

Incredible mini documentary. Tears in my eyes as we transitioned to the McRea onboard footage.

@__-fm5qv 2 ай бұрын

It's videos like this that remind me how lucky we are in the UK with some of our roads. Just normal B-Roads that are an absolute blast to drive down spiritedly.

@brianwoods6403 Ай бұрын

I remember being in usa highschool in autobody shop and being so jelous that id never have this car in my country. Thank you so much for covering this and bringing back such great memories.

@irfankass 2 ай бұрын

watching mcrae in the focus on the safari was a memory of a lifetime!! love the feature thank you!!

@BenWRC Ай бұрын

Have to agree at the end, whenever someone mentions a McRae onboard I instantly think of the Focus in Wales, has to be one of if not my favourite really car of all time

@angus3963 2 ай бұрын

RIP Colin. I loooved watching him tear it up in the MK1, great era in WRC.

@BillyBanter100 Ай бұрын

I still miss my 2000 Focus Mk1 Zetec. Even the base models had great handling. Excellent video that shows the cars full potential.

@josephkelly4893 2 ай бұрын

What a sorted chassis that mk1 Focus has, owned one and it was beautiful round a twisty back road, you could place it inch perfect, and trust it completely

@garyhawkins9246 2 ай бұрын

Is there currently a finer motoring journalist in the world than Henry? … I can’t think of one, pure class

@jmckmedia6377 2 ай бұрын

Unbelievably well done! Loved the rawness of this and the footage of you walking through the classic weather there while storytelling is just too accurate (from what I've always heard, anyways!). Hagerty... You've built a hell of an empire ❤

@8-bitbenzu529 2 ай бұрын

Brilliant as always, Henry

@AtlanticPicture 2 ай бұрын

Love the videos in general - the sound of the engine and the car flying through the course, all the info - but the top-of-the-lungs screaming into the helmet reminds me of those weathermen leaning into a hurricane, yelling 'IT'S WINDY HERE!' 😂

@anton_e_sumin 2 ай бұрын

One of the best videos in so far

@dziwny88 Ай бұрын

Back in the day when rally and cars were cool. Love the cars from that era so much ❤

@OdyTypeR 2 ай бұрын

This vid actively locked my diff 👍🏼

@M154MATT 2 ай бұрын

Many years ago I was involved with a photoshoot for Autocar at Longcross test track and Focus RS0001 was there my Dad and I brought my Clio Williams 1 there but they never published the article for some reason. Good memories though.

@leeroscoe8382 Ай бұрын

The car that was ahead of its time & still is timeless . So glad I own a RS 1 maybe 2 ST 😉. Fantastic video & so true words ...what a rally car 💪👏👏👏

@SnakeyUk08 Ай бұрын

As always Henry on point with great visuals and story telling good job man and the team , and RIP Colin (bloody helicopters!)🙏😥

@scottfer4 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for this video... goosebumps are real. What a lovely car.. I really enjoy my MK1 1.8 TDCi, almost as much as my RS :)

@johnnyresistance 2 ай бұрын

Epic film, well done Henry and Hagerty

@markthibault8579 2 ай бұрын

So good. Credit also to Girardo and Co. for making their awesome rally car collection available for these videos.

@OTRCarTours 2 ай бұрын

Simply outstanding.

@AlexSchuerger 2 ай бұрын

Everything film he does is just way to good!

@Joe.Doucette 2 ай бұрын

Henry Catchpole could do a video on the Amish buggy and I'd be watching it intently. But he probably wouldn't be going quite this fast. ;) A wonderful driver, narrator/presenter and multi-tasker! Thanks, Henry and Hagerty.