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The Mustang appeared a bit out of place at the rally. Though the Ford Fiesta is a popular car in RallyAmerica, Black River Stages is a NASA Rally Sport event, which caters to a more grassroots community. Other Fords included Martin Donnelly’s Focus ZX3, Gary DeMasi’s V8 Rally Ranger, and Michael Gillespie’s Escort – not the American econobox, but the European RWD Escort. But these were all fully prepared rally cars, with good ground clearance, gravel tires, and roll cages.

My Mustang had none of these. But it did have the same 2.3 EcoBoost motor that will be going into the Focus RS. That has to give it at least some rally cred. So did the independent rear suspension, new on this 2015 model. My particular car was also equipped with the Performance Package, which adds a lower final drive, stiffer front springs and rear sway bar, larger front brakes and radiator, and other performance tweaks. And though they’re not legal for a full-on rally car the optional Recaro seats would be comfortable and supportive during spirited driving.

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