We're sponsoring two guys, Rob and John, who've had the crazy idea of taking a Ford Focus 1.6 diesel and driving it through desert sections from the 2007 Dakar rally. All in a FORD FOCUS!
The guys have got the same CIBIE spots as below, minus the Porsche
🤣
As kids the struggle, effort and adventure of driving the Paris Dakar rally captured their imaginations. The heat, the dust and the thrill of unleashing the (then 'new') technologies' of turbocharging and four wheel drive. These were things that they could only dream of....
Some 40 years later they finally have the chance to fulfil that dream - or at least part of it. So the first thing they needed was a car. Perhaps a Merc G Wagon?... or better still a Porsche 959!
Mmmm maybe not, the reality is a little bit different... and they've had to make a few compromises. So after coming back down to earth with a big old bang they decided on a Ford Focus, yep you read that right... a Ford Focus (the actual one is in the picture below). But this is not just any Ford Focus, this is a 15 year old MKII 1.6 diesel Ford Focus - boom 💥
This is the silver fox that will be sporting our bolts.
Why a Ford Focus? I hear you cry. Well it's part of the rules set down by Mac at Max Adventure the leader of the Driven To Extremes team. Obviously there will need to be a few modifications done to the humble family hatchback, in an attempt to meet the challenges of driving on rocky Moroccan roads - and the Sahara's soft sands.
So why go for a diesel? Firstly it's less flammable than petrol and as they'll have to carry emergency fuel inside the car, diesel just makes sense. Also getting hold of diesel in the remote areas of the Sahara desert is more likely than finding petrol. Lastly the extra mpg is a massive money saver!
Diesel just makes sense, from a safety perspective 🔥
The next vital modification is tyres. Off-road tyres are the obvious choice to meet the challenges of getting around Morocco. The problem is that the extensive sections of driving on the roads will quickly wear down the block tread, making them far less effective for off-road use. Another option was to have two sets of tyres, one for road and one for off-road; but the problems with this is the additional cost and weight. An extra set of wheels would add 80 kg of weight, significantly hampering progress on soft sand.
To go with just one set of tyres required some radical thinking from the boys and a few compromises…. all season van tyres! They are hoping the casing will stand up to rocks and potholes. the all season tread pattern provides good off-road traction, while also being durable enough to survive on tarmac.
Ok, let's talk all season tyre choice.
The first choice was Michelin Agilis Cross Climate (click here) as they provide a great balance between wear resistance and wet weather grip. But it proved impossible to source a used set of 4 within the £200 budget. So Bridgstone Duravis were the next option, to see them click here. They have a similar tread pattern to the Michelins and JTR tyres (based in Carlisle) and come well within budget.
The hope is they prove to be the ultimate all-purpose tyre for the trip, videos will be uploaded on Rob & John's website in the "Updates" section - tracking their progress.
These are the little beauties that will eat up those miles.
They new they'd need to raise the suspension, for ground clearance. Coupled with tyres deeper sidewalls should give good ground clearance; while sump and radiator guards will be installed to minimise damage when they inevitably hit things. In an attempt to reduce fuel costs they're nit going to fit a roof rack. Instead they'll modify the interior, so that it is suitable for safely carrying all the kit needed.
Another smart move Rob and John opted for is steel wheels, of course they can buckled when hitting big rocks and the like, but unlike alloys they can be straightened without the risk of cracking. Furthermore, they can easily be welded in remote areas, which resourceful Moroccan’s can usually do using two car batteries!
They managed to get hold of a set of used Ford Transit Connect wheels. Courtesy of a West London plumber who, ironically, upgraded his van to alloys. These wheels are a perfect fit on the Mk2 Ford Focus, although this particular set of wheels were a bit rough. So they spent some time sprucing them up, take a look at the video here.
All spruced up with BBS graphics from ‘I Say Ding Dong’ nice touch.
Getting around the Sahara with a standard suspension is a bit of an ask, so the guys new they would definitely need to upgrade if they hoped to traverse Africa’s testing terrain. A key issue for the Ford Focus is a lack of ground clearance. As luck would have it they managed to solve that problem by enlisting the help of a Ukrainian company 'Lift Kit Car' (Lift Kit Car).
This superb company manufacture an innovative suspension lift kit for the Mk2 Ford Focus, providing an extra 30 mm of ground clearance. This involves fitting spacers to the tops of the struts, the mounting points on the front wishbones and the rear trailing arms. It also re-uses the factory springs and dampers, again keeping the costs down 👍.
When driving on rough and rocky roads the sump and gearbox are two of the most vulnerable parts underneath the car. Impact from rocks can easily break the mounts for the engine and/or gearbox, or puncture the sump and that's not good. Steel Sump Guard (Steel Engine Sump Guard), design and manufacture sump guards in Romania, they're installed using factory mounting points too.
That means fitting doesn't require modification to the car - bonus. Steel Sump Guard supported Rob & John's expedition by making a custom sump guard specifically for the trip. The guard has no air vents and the sump access holes have been removed, giving the front of the car a strong smooth underside.
The hope is at that guard will help the car slip and slide over rocks and boulders without damage and will reduce sand finding its way into the engine bay - fingers and toes crossed for you fellas 🤞
For most of the trip and especially in the desert they will be camping next to the car. The reasons for this, convenience, cost, security and sometimes it'll be only option!
They'll be using a two man light weight tent, that can be pitched without the fly sheet. They're not expecting rain in the desert, but you never know so it'll go in the car just in case, failing to plan is plann... you know the rest.
They've got three season sleeping bags, desert temperatures can drop close to zero at night brrrrr. So putting in sleeping bag liners for extra warmth is a no brainer. Lastly self inflating mats that will reduce heat loss, sleeping sorted ⛺ 👍
Sleeping under the stars in the desert, spectacular!
They're on route as I type this, Rob & John set off from the UK on the 12th September. To say I'm jealous is an under statement, I'd swap places with those black stainless steel bolts in a heartbeat.
Below is how the car is looking after all the modifications, the guys have done a smashing job. It looks great, especially those wing mirrors 🤣
If you've got this far in the blog I'm guessing you want to see the itinerary, well here it is.
The Sahara part of the expedition starts September 2025 in Tarifa and finishes in Algeciras, both in southern Spain. They'll will be back in Spain, all being well, on Thursday 25th September and then it's back to the UK from there.
Set off from the UK: Friday 15th
Teams meet in Tarifa, southern Spain: Monday 15th
Tarifa to Chefchaouen: Tuesday 16th
Chefchaouen to Midelt: Wednesday 17th
Midelt to Merzouga: Thursday 18th
Merzouga to Lac Maider: Friday 19th
Lac Maider to Zagora: Saturday 20th
Zagora to Lac Iriki: Sunday 21st
Lac Iriki to Foum Zguid: Monday 22nd
Foum Zguid to Marrakesh: Tuesday 23rd
Marrakesh to Asilah: Wednesday 24th
Asilah to Algeciras: Thursday 25th
Those CIBIE spots sadly didn't make it on to the car, maybe next year 😢. 
If you've loved reading about the start of Rob & John's adventure, we'll be updating their progress throughout the rally on our facebook page. So tune in there, thanks for reading - Jez.
