THE BRAND-new Ford Focus RS rally car, whose arrival on the World Championship scene has been masterminded in the Lake District, made an eye-catching debut in Rally Australia on Sunday.

Czech Roman Kesta brought the new Focus RD home in seventh place after setting the fastest time on the final stage.

That finishing position might have been higher for the debut car but for team-mate Finn Toni Gardemeister having to retire two stages from the end with a broken water-pump belt drive.

The setback could not subdue the high spirits in the Ford camp as the Focus RS proved to be more than a match for its more technically advanced rivals.

The Focus should be competing on an even playing-field soon, however, as rule changes aimed at simplfying the set-up of the cars are due to come into force.

Team boss Malcom Wilson, who runs the Ford M-Sport rally team from its Dovenby Hall base, on the edge of Cockermouth, said: "It has been a fantastic weekend for us."

"I am sorry that we lost Toni on the penultimate stage, but we scored two fastest times, which is remarkable for a car which has been designed and built in less than 11 months.

Kresta said: "I have never driven anything as good as the Focus RS."