We’re fully aware that in traditional drag racing circles, imports, sport compacts, or – what they are more affectionately known as – “rice burners” aren’t really that popular of a genre of drag racing vehicles. Despite these racers’ preference in car and engine choice, however, many of them deserve due credit for what they accomplish with relatively little. There are a lot of very fast imports all across the globe, and as such, this one may not come as all that much of a surprise, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
What we have here is a little front wheel drive, Ford Fiesta sporting a turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine blasting out a 9.78 at 150 miles per hour down the quarter mile. As you can see, this isn’t your typical drag strip, however. This event takes place in Hungary, on what looks to be essentially an airport landing strip lines by a bazillion road cones. The traction on that surface probably isn’t much to brag about, but this Fiesta sure got off the starting line well. The incrementals on this run include a 1.64 short time, 4.39 to 330′ and 6.48 at 118 MPH to half track. A lot of American V8’s wouldn’t even want a part of that.
In this in-car video, you get both a view out the front windshield going downtrack, as well as a look at driver Szabolcs Kovac as he runs through the gears. Peering out over the dash, you get the feeling you’re in a high-pitched, enclosed golf cart. But hey, it’s faster than our cars, so what’re we to say.