Steeda News Release - On Track

Steeda's newest entry into the racing circuit debuted at Moroso Motorsports Park May 18th and 19th. Yellow 22, the new Steeda race Focus ZX3 proved its self to be a true competitor in the SPU class. Drivers Dan Carlson and Frank Stoddard were very pleased with the cars performance over the weekend's events.

Testing the car equipped with a Steeda suspension and a stock 2.0L ZETEC engine with some minor bolt ons started early Saturday morning. Several test and qualifying runs where made to ensure that the cars settings where at peak performance. Dan spent the morning tuning the shocks and setting the tire pressure. He finished up the afternoon with a nine-lap fifteen-minute race in which he placed fourth in class and tenth over all.

The weather on Sunday created difficult race conditions. With scattered showers the track would go from dry to wet and then back to dry again without notice. The track was filled with multiple classes. The first event on Sunday was a twenty-minute practice and qualifying run for the enduro. Frank drove this qualifying round and placed twenty-seventh on the grid second in class. The second event on Sunday was a five-lap race. Dan was in stiff competition with Spec Miata's and ITGB Honda's and VolksWagon's but managed to place third in class.

The main event of the weekend was a one and a-half hour endurance race that the Steeda Focus had placed twenty-seventh on the grid of fifty for in the earlier qualifying. Several last minute tire changes were required as Frank and Dan tried to predict what the track conditions would be. Dan started the enduro with the track fairly dry and was really making great time. When the drivers switched off to Frank during the five minute pit stop the rain came, creating some of the slickest driving conditions of the weekend. The Focus was able to place second in class and proved that it could handle well in dry or wet weather.

The weekend was a success for the Steeda Focus racing program and Dan was proud to be one of only two cars in the entire enduro with a license plate. With no problems in four races and strong finishes we are very excited about the future of the car. With its easily tuned suspension, durability and excellent handling we feel that we are at a great starting point. The next step is to get more horsepower out of the engine with an improved cylinder head, intake and new camshafts.