Ford · 2013–2018 (US) · track setup

Focus ST Mk3

The Mk3 Focus ST is a practical, turbocharged front-drive hatch with strong mid-range torque and a manual-only gearbox in the US. It makes a cheap, fun HPDE car, but published track data for it is thin, so this guide sticks to general front-drive principles where specific numbers were not found.
Engine
2.0 L turbocharged inline-four (EcoBoost), 6-speed manual
Power
252 hp, 270 lb-ft
Weight
≈3,223 lb (2018)
Layout
Front-engine
Drive
FWD
Performance planner ↓

These are starting points gathered from the sources listed at the bottom, not a guarantee. Cars, tires and parts vary: have a reputable alignment shop set your car, check factory specs for road use, and change one thing at a time.

01On track

Strengths
  • +Strong low- and mid-range torque from the turbo four
  • +Practical hatchback that can carry a spare set of wheels
  • +Adjustable rear camber arms available for the rear axle
  • +Inexpensive used, with a big tuning aftermarket
Watch out for
  • −Front-drive: front tires and front brakes do most of the work
  • −Over 3,200 lb, heavy for its size
  • −Little published track alignment or cooling data for this car

02Alignment

Where to start the alignment.

Alignment · starting points
VIEWED FROM BEHIND · CAMBER EXAGGERATED ×3—FRONT L—FRONT R—REAR L—REAR R
FrontRear
Camberas much negative as you can get; more needs aftermarket partsless negative than the front, set with adjustable arms
Toeabout zeroabout zero to slight toe-out for rotation

Qualitative only. Adjustable rear arms give -1.5° to +5.0° of rear camber range.

Sources [4]

Hot pressure target
about 34–36 psi hot on 200TW tires as a first target

From Tire Rack testing on a rear-drive car; Tire Rack's older chart for front-heavy FWD/AWD cars starts higher at the front. Adjust in 2 psi steps. [11,12] Work out your cold pressure →

03Tires & brakes

Tires and brakes

  • 200TW endurance
    • Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
    • Yokohama Advan A052
    • Falken Azenis RT660+
    Factory size (check your door placard) or a lighter 18-inch track wheel

    Tire Rack called the RE-71RS the near-untouchable benchmark of its 2025 200TW track testing; third-party summaries of Tire Rack data put the A052 and RT660+ close behind.

    Sources [8,10]
  • R-compound / slick
    • Hoosier TrackAttack Race R8
    Size to your wheel widths

    Heat-cycle new tires; minimum 26 psi cold.

    Sources [7]
Brake pads

A dedicated track compound in front; confirm fitment for your caliper.

Brake fluid

Motul RBF 600 / RBF 660

Bleed before every event. [9]

04Known issues on track

Fix these before they find you.

  • Front tires and front brakes

    On a front-driver the front axle does the steering, most of the braking and all the driving. Fit a track pad and high-boiling racing fluid before the first event, and watch front tire shoulders. [9]

  • Plastic cooling parts

    Mishimoto, which sells aluminum replacements, says the factory plastic expansion tanks on the Focus RS/ST can crack with age, and that the stock ST intercooler is tube-and-fin with plastic end tanks. Inspect them before track days on an older car. [5,6]

  • Rear camber after lowering

    Lowering the car can push rear camber too negative. Adjustable rear camber arms (Eibach lists -1.5° to +5.0° of range) let you correct it; always re-align after fitting springs. [4]

05Modification roadmap

In the order that pays off.

  1. 0
    Safety & reliability first

    Safety and reliability first

    • Track pads and racing fluidThe front brakes do most of the work.
    • Inspect plastic cooling partsExpansion tanks and end tanks age and crack.
    • Harnesses only with roll protectionNever fit harnesses without a roll bar or cage.
  2. 1
    Tires & alignment

    Tires and alignment

    • 200TW tiresThe biggest single grip gain.
    • Adjustable rear camber armsCorrect rear camber after lowering and tune balance.
  3. 2
    Suspension & brakes

    Suspension

    • Springs/coilovers and front camber partsMore front camber and less roll keep the front tires working.
  4. 3
    Power & aero

    Power last

    • Intercooler before tuningMore boost means more heat; the stock intercooler is a basic tube-and-fin unit.

06Performance planner

What each upgrade is worth on this car.

Pick upgrades and see the estimated lap-time change on a reference circuit, how much margin your brakes and engine have late in a session, and which changes buy durability rather than speed.

Performance planner · Focus ST Mk3Model estimate
Tires
Brake pads
Brake fluid
Brake cooling
Brakes
Alignment
Suspension
Differential
Weight
Power
Cooling
Oil system
Aero
1:51.35stock 1:51.35−0.0%

Reference circuit (fictional, 3.5 km). Late lap includes brake fade and heat derating once the system runs out of margin.

T1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8SPEED · your plan vs stock · top 119 mph
Brake fade marginFades
Engine heat marginHolds
Oil starvation riskLow
Tire life (relative)100%
Sensitivity · each upgrade alone vs stock (late lap)
  • R-compound tires−5.66%load ↑
  • 200TW endurance tires−2.92%load ↑
  • Track alignment−0.94%
  • Coilovers + sway bars−0.78%
  • Street/track pads−0.76%durability ↑
  • Race pads−0.76%durability ↑
  • High-temp fluid−0.76%durability ↑
  • Brake cooling ducts−0.76%durability ↑
  • Big brake kit−0.74%durability ↑
  • Splitter + wing−0.65%
  • Limited-slip differential−0.58%load ↑
  • Lighter wheels + seat−0.19%
  • Oil cooler + radiator±0durability ↑
  • Oil system (baffles / accumulator)±0
  • Intake, exhaust, tune±0load ↑
This car’s roadmap below starts with: Track pads and racing fluid · Inspect plastic cooling parts · Harnesses only with roll protection · 200TW tires

Estimates from a simplified point-mass lap simulation of Focus ST Mk3 (3,224 lb, 252 hp) on a fictional circuit, with generic effects for each upgrade category. Good for comparing options on the same car, not for predicting your lap time. Real results depend on the driver, the exact parts, the track and the conditions.

Free printable setup sheet →

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-18. Summaries are TRACK’s own wording; follow the links for the original detail. Product and brand names belong to their owners.

  1. [1]2018 Ford Focus ST Hatchback 4DKelley Blue Book · accessed 2026-10
  2. [2]Ford Focus (third generation)Wikipedia · accessed 2026-10
  3. [3]Ford EcoBoost engine: 2.0 L (Focus ST output)Wikipedia · accessed 2026-10
  4. [4]Eibach Camber Arm Pro-Alignment Kit, Focus ST 2013–2018CJ Pony Parts · accessed 2026-10
  5. [5]Cooler Than Winterfell – Intercooler R&D, Part 1: Stock System Review (Focus ST)Mishimoto · accessed 2026-10
  6. [6]Tank Love – Coolant Expansion Tank R&D, Part 1: Design Plans (Focus RS / ST)Mishimoto · accessed 2026-10
  7. [7]Circuit Racing tires: DOT radial camber, cold/hot pressure and heat-cycle guidanceHoosier Racing Tire · accessed 2026-10
  8. [8]Extreme Performance Summer & Track Tire Test – 2025 Test 4F (200TW and sub-200TW tires)Tire Rack · accessed 2026-10
  9. [9]Motul RBF 600 / 660 Racing DOT 4 Brake FluidHybrid Racing · accessed 2026-10
  10. [10]2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre TestTyre Reviews · accessed 2026-10
  11. [11]Confirming optimal track tire pressures: 14 Extreme Performance & Competition tires tested on a BMW M2Tire Rack · accessed 2026-10
  12. [12]What Tire Air Pressure Do I Use For Track And Autocross?Tire Rack · accessed 2026-10
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