1010bhp Ford Focus RS Mk2: The World's First 1000bhp+ RS Returns to Ford Fair

The Return of a Record-Breaking Ford Focus RS

A legendary piece of Ford performance history is making a comeback. Grant Butler's show-stopping Mk2 Focus RS, which made history as the world's first Focus RS to break into four-digit power figures with a dyno-proven 1010bhp, is returning to the spotlight. For the first time in years, enthusiasts will have the chance to witness this extraordinary vehicle at Ford Fair this August.

This remarkable Focus RS represents the pinnacle of tuning achievement for the model, setting a benchmark that would inspire countless other builds. Its upcoming appearance at Silverstone marks a rare opportunity for Ford enthusiasts to see this groundbreaking vehicle in person.

A £13,000 Gamble That Changed Everything

The story of this record-breaking Focus RS began with what seemed like an unlikely opportunity. Grant Butler was originally planning to purchase a demo Focus RS from Quaife for approximately £25,000 when he received an alert about another RS available for just £13,500. Despite initial scepticism, Grant took a gamble and arranged to meet the seller in London.

"It turned out it was a Cat D, stolen recovered vehicle, but it had all the necessary documents and checks," Grant recalls. The car required some attention, but represented a solid foundation for a project. A fortunate bargaining opportunity arose when the seller accidentally clipped a rock and damaged the rear bumper during their meeting, allowing Grant to negotiate the price down to £12,000. He drove the newly acquired RS back to Scotland, where modifications began immediately.

Crafting the RS Ford Never Built

Grant's vision for the Focus RS was ambitious from the outset. He began by fitting a Milltek Sport exhaust system with a high-flow downpipe and de-cat, complemented by an Auto Specialists induction kit to enhance the distinctive five-cylinder growl. With a significant budget allocation, he then committed to a full respray in a unique colour.

"I'd always wanted a purple Focus RS, a colour I thought Ford should have offered from the start," Grant explains. He sourced a unique Kandy Purple pearl directly from House of Kolor in the US, with the paint alone costing £1,400. The intricate process required two black base coats, four coats of Kandy Purple, and four coats of lacquer, resulting in a flawless finish that makes the car instantly recognisable.

The exterior modifications continued with custom wheels, initially 20-inch BBS alloys followed by Volan wheels from a Jaguar XF, which were painted Hyper White to make the purple paintwork stand out even more dramatically.

OEM-Plus Styling and Premium Interior

Grant's attention to detail extended to every aspect of the vehicle's appearance. "I wanted to make it look like it had come from Ford as a special edition," he comments. A custom bonnet was created using Sierra Sapphire 4x4 vents with a 'U'-duct for improved cooling, anticipating the substantial power increases planned for the future.

All exterior plastics were finished in piano black, while the tailgate was flushed and tucked to accommodate a shorter personal plate. The front bumper was modified by removing the central bar for a more aggressive appearance. The first significant engine upgrade came in the form of a GI Motorsport RS420 setup, which provided what Grant describes as "mega power" and made the car incredibly fun to drive.

The interior received equally meticulous attention, with Optimus Automotive in Glasgow trimming every surface in black nappa leather with purple stitching and logos to match the exterior paint. The seats feature an Escort Cosworth-inspired hexagon stitch pattern, creating a truly bespoke cabin environment.

The Quest for Unprecedented Power

Grant's ambition to create something truly unique led him to pursue power levels never before seen in a Focus RS. Having already equipped the car with formidable braking components – 410mm front discs with eight-pot calipers and 365mm rears with six-pots – he approached Devil Developments for the engine transformation.

The build began with the largest turbo available in Borg Warner's EFR range, the EFR9180. Due to its size, Meercat Exhausts fabricated a custom 'side-winder' exhaust manifold to relocate the turbo to where the battery previously sat. This was accompanied by a full 115mm exhaust system with 5.5-inch slash-cut tailpipes.

With forged internals, an Anembo plenum, and 1000cc injectors managed by Syvecs, the RS initially achieved 834bhp, making it the highest-powered Mk2 Focus RS at that time. However, disaster struck when inadequate head bolts failed under 2.3bar of boost, resulting in catastrophic engine failure.

Achieving the 1000bhp Milestone

Following encouragement from his wife Suzie to rebuild rather than abandon the project, Grant set his sights on becoming the first to achieve four-digit power figures in a road-going Focus RS. Lee at Devil Developments spec'd a comprehensively reinforced engine featuring a big-valve flowed head with Stage 3 cams, a linered block, billet crank, I-beam rods, oversized pistons, and ARP fasteners throughout.

After a careful 1000-mile run-in period, custom 2000cc injectors were fitted in preparation for mapping. At Dyna-tune in East Kilbride, Lee spent an entire day on the hub dyno, ultimately achieving 1010bhp at the flywheel (918bhp at the hubs) with 870lb.ft of torque using E85 fuel.

What's It Like to Drive a 1010bhp Focus RS?

"It drives brilliantly round town off-boost, and is awesome on fuel," Grant reports. However, engaging the full power transforms the experience entirely. "Sink your right boot though and it feels like you've just had a bomb go off in the boot, pinning you into your seat! The boost just keeps on building; it's like it's never going to stop."

The Syvecs management system ensures controllability, with boost coming in at 3,500rpm and full boost available from 4,000rpm to beyond 7,000rpm. While Grant runs 2.8bar for the full 1010bhp, daily driving typically uses a reduced 2.3bar setting producing 750bhp – "more than enough to spank all the cars round my way," he laughs.

Grant acknowledges that his record will likely be surpassed, but takes pride in being the first to break the 1000bhp barrier. "They'll never be the first to break the 1000bhp mark and that's all I wanted – you always remember the first!"

See the Legend at Ford Fair 2025

After years away from the spotlight, enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see Grant Butler's record-breaking 1010bhp Focus RS Mk2 at Ford Fair on Sunday, August 11th at Silverstone. This represents a rare chance to witness a genuinely historic vehicle in the world of Ford performance tuning.

The appearance of this iconic Focus RS promises to be a highlight of the event, showcasing what remains one of the most ambitious and successfully executed tuning projects in the UK car modification scene.