"Gearbox
The Ford Focus RS WRC 06 features a considerable amount of change in its gearbox from the previous model, not only in specification but also in layout. The original Focus WRC (introduced in 1999) mated a longitudinal gearbox to a transverse engine, an engineering feat in itself. But for the new car, Loriaux decided to use a transverse gearbox along with the transverse engine. “I think there are benefits in packaging but also there should be less loss through friction,” he said. The new Ricardo-developed gearbox will have five gears, not six like the outgoing model. “Reducing the number of gears allows us to make a small weight saving and also a saving in terms of size of the gearbox itself,” said Loriaux. “We think that with the 34 mm air restrictor on the turbocharger, as specified by the rules, the engine’s low-down strength and torque mean a five-speed unit will be as effective as a six-speed one. After all, with six speeds you do lose a little more time through more frequent changes anyway."
bis 2005, 6 und ab dem 2006-Modell, 5