Ford opens the doors on its Swedish rally skunkworks

Fri, 19 Sep 2014

It's always amazing to see how different kinds of racecars are made. Formula One racers are often constructed in modern architectural marvels that hint at some of the cutting-edge technology going into the racing. Conversely, rallying is all about sliding around on a varied course as fast as possible, but it often leaves a vehicle caked in mud. So it makes some sense Olsbergs MSE, or simply (OMSE) rally car shop in Nynashamn, Sweden, shows technological sophistication in a more down-to-earth setting. It builds Ford Fiesta ST racers for Global Rallycross there, and this new video gives viewers a tour through the work.

Former rally driver Andreas Eriksson runs OMSE. These days instead of racing, he and the company's 46 employees are building Ford racers from scratch. A ton of work goes into constructing each one, and according to Eriksson, it takes 400 hours to complete each body. At times, things are so busy that some of the technicians live in the shop in apartments that are on premises. There's even a restaurant to keep them fed. Sadly the dyno room is empty during this visit, though.

By the time OMSE is done, a rallycross car might resemble a Fiesta ST on the outside, but as you see in the video, it's a completely different beast underneath. Check out the work it takes to build one of them, and scroll down to read more about it in the official release.

Ford Racing Takes Fans Behind the Scenes at Olsbergs MSE's Rally Car Shop in Sweden

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 16, 2014 – After a successful debut that featured a behind-the-scenes look at Red Bull Global Rallycross star Ken Block's racing operation, Ford Racing's All Access video series is back with a look at another one of its top teams.

Andreas Eriksson, Olsbergs MSE (OMSE) team owner, took Ford Racing behind the scenes of his rally car shop in Nynashamn, Sweden, allowing cameras unprecedented access to the shop and his crew as they prepare their team's Ford Fiesta STs for competition.

Eriksson shows fans the different aspects of the shop floor where his fleet of Fiestas are built, including components such as gearboxes to car wraps and graphics. Eriksson also provides a look at what he refers to as, "the cave," the area where everything is built. The Fiestas pass through this area for everything from repairs and tires to engine testing inside the dyno room.

The shop also literally serves as home base for several OMSE technicians, who have such amenities as on-site living quarters, full workout facility, and a full-time restaurant that the entire team can access.

The OMSE shop tour video is part of Ford Racing's All Access video campaign. These videos take fans behind the scenes and give them unprecedented access to their favorite teams and drivers across the various series of racing, including NASCAR, IMSA, NHRA, Formula Drift, and Red Bull Global Rallycross.

To see the full video, visit Ford Racing's YouTube channel here: http://youtu.be/ZOGqImZH3to

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About Ford Racing
Ford Racing is based in Dearborn, Mich., and is responsible for major racing operations in North America, including NASCAR (Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Camping World Trucks), TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, and NHRA drag racing. In addition, Ford's action motorsport programs include the Global RallyCross Championship, Formula Drift, Rally America and Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. The department also oversees the development and marketing of Ford Racing Engines and Performance Parts, the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts, and the marketing of the Ford Racing brand through consumer initiatives. For more information regarding Ford Racing's activities, please visit www.fordracing.com, www.facebook.com/FordRacing, or @FordRacing on Twitter.

By Chris Bruce