Ford have announced a limited run of special edition Focus ST500’s of which just 500 will made available to UK customers for £20,495. Based on the top-of-the-range Focus ST3 the ST500 includes a number of unique features, such as metallic black paintwork with silver bonnet, roof and side stripes which Ford hope will remind us all of the winning GT40 in the 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966.

Unlike the Le Mans winning GT40 the ST500 features no drivetrain modifications as it uses the Focus ST’s 20-valve five-cylinder Duratec 2.5 engine, which develops 165kW/225PS/221hp at 6,100rpm and 320Nm of torque – no slouch even in standard trim.

What you do get for the extra money are scarlet leather Recaro sports seats and matching upholstery, special ST500 badging, automatic Xenon high-intensity headlamps, auto-dimming rear view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and a solar-reflect windscreen.

With sales in excess of 13,500 units in the UK the Ford Focus ST (according to Ford) is the most sought after performance hatchback in the UK, which will make the ST500 “the one to have” if hot hatches are your thing.