Video: Roy Hill Races Cobra Jet Against Tanner Foust’s Rally Fiesta

hill1

The Ford Racing Cobra Jet features a 5.0L V8 engine topped off with a Whipple 2.9L twin-screw supercharger. And the Ford Fiesta ST has a 2.0L, 550-plus horsepower turbocharged engine under the hood.

You’d think the two wouldn’t be competitive on the dragstrip, but when would you ever have the chance to find out? In this video, of course.

Ford Racing took both cars to North Carolina’s zMAX Dragway and pitted rally driver Tanner Foust and legendary drag racer Roy Hill of Roy Hill’s Drag Racing School in a battle for the ages. Turbocharged, all-wheel-drive, custom-transmission Rally car versus supercharged small-block, rear-wheel-drive monster.

Hill is pretty confident that he’s going to win, bragging to Foust that his Cobra Jet even includes “power winders”, and once the tree drops, it becomes pretty evident that he’s right. Hill screams through the traps with an outstanding 8.99 at 152 MPH, while Foust crosses the stripe with a 10.59 at 127-plus.

hill2The Fiesta ST’s all-wheel drive and huge-horse four-cylinder is no match for the supercharged V8, but it does excel in one area that the Cobra Jet does not – braking and handling, as Foust comes to a complete stop after passing through the traps and doing a donut before racing back to the starting line on the track surface, while Hill pulls the ‘chute and rolls to the end of the track.

We’re not sure whether zMAX’s Bruton Smith will be too happy with the new racing stripes on his track’s surface, but one thing is for sure – the little 2.0L runs an impressive time for such a small engine.

Check out this fun video, and watch two of Ford’s most prolific machines go head-to-head.

About the author

Jason Reiss

Jason draws on over 15 years of experience in the automotive publishing industry, and collaborates with many of the industry's movers and shakers to create compelling technical articles and high-quality race coverage.
Read My Articles

Blue Oval Muscle in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from FordMuscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
FordMuscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

FordMuscle

We'll send you the most interesting FordMuscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

FordMuscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Ford Muscle

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


Muscle Car & Hot Rods
Muscle Car & Hot Rods
Drag Racing
Drag Racing

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • Muscle Car & Hot Rods Muscle Car & Hot Rods
  • Drag Racing Drag Racing

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Ford Muscle

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading