Ford Europe built the Fiesta RS WRC for Ford’s factory backed WRC teams. This particular model, from Majorette’s Racing Series, is missing a window decal, but the “#4" (and the striking black livery) indicates that this is a model of the car driven by Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila during its debut season in 2011.
This black livery is stunning. Interestingly though, while it was one of the livery choices discussed internally at Ford Europe, it was not the 1st choice. And so the car made its WRC debut with a blue and green livery.
Ford Motorspots Europe had earmarked this new all black color scheme only for testing in tarmac/asphalt, but it caught the eye of fans when the team sneaked it in for a 4 day asphalt test in France.
Ford Europe Motorsport chief Gerard Quinn explained the special livery for asphalt testing as an intention to add a “sexy, mean and moody look” to the car in its “lower asphalt-specification set-up”.
Enamored fans agreed with this explanation and petitioned the team on Facebook to run with the black livery in actual races. And giving into the fan’s strong approval for the livery, the team opted for the black livery in the asphalt based Rallye de France where both #3 and #4 cars finished in the top 5.
However all good things must come to an end and the team went back to its older livery from the next race in Spain. Le sigh!
(P.S: I just realized that Majorette messed the realism by making the front headlights black. Looks cool, but still...!)