Our dedicated followers might remember the wild, carbon-clad Mitsubishi Eclipse which Marek Rybníček used to win the Czech Hillclimb Championship in 2011 and 2012. The 650-horsepower spat out by the 4G63 motor was always enough for the purpose of hillclimbing, but even with all the modifications made to the chassis, one got the impression that the chassis was the limiting factor in this sublime concoction. Fortunately, Rybníček seems to have shared in that vision, since he’s kept the motor but stuck it in something far more exciting.

The tried-and-tested 4G63 now resides in the engine bay of a Ford Fiesta WRC, and as it weighs just 2100 pounds, the 650 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque are more than enough to fling the little rally machine up the hill. The power is always deftly deployed by the four wheel-drive system, but perhaps better than some other hillclimb monsters which drive all their tires.

Photo credit: Marek Rybníček

As Rybníček hustles the petite Ford through the daunting course, he’s able to change the angle of attack with his foot flat to the floor. Like an F1 car from the 1970s, this car allows for a lot of throttle-steering, and not only is this fast, but it allows Rybníček to keep his car pointed in the right direction when there’s little room to negotiate. It’s tough making an AWD car deploy that much grunt in such a manageable fashion, but thanks to his delicate touch and a very capable setup engineer, Rybníček pulls it off.

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