Ford Racing revealed the new Focus ST race car ahead of its debut at the Chicago Auto Show. This car is built by Ford’s partner OlsbergsMSE, and will compete in the Global RallyCross Championship (GRC) and X Games. They also have some high profile drivers, including Ken Block, Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan.

The new race car is the core of Ford’s plans to expand its presence in the sport. In addition to five expected North American events, there will be four X Games in 2013 with RallyCross competition, and the ST is set to compete in all of them. This is also good publicity for the road-going version of the car, going on sale this summer in the global market.

“Global RallyCross has been a great series for us to demonstrate what Ford’s small performance cars can do,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “With great drivers and teams, and now a formal manufacturer partnership with OlsbergsMSE, Ford Racing’s commitment to Global RallyCross is quickly growing. We’re excited about the debut of the Fiesta ST GRC car this year, and it will be fantastic to see Ford’s global performance car compete in four countries around the world this season.”