Ford have said that their 2007 Focus WRC car will not lead to a significant gain in performance for the second half of the season.
The new car will make its debut when the championship resumes in Finland at the start of August, and the team are happy with the progress they have made.
The team's technical director Christian Loriaux said: "It is important not to think of the '07 car as a new car in the same way that the 2003 or 2006 models were.
"This is an evolution of the car that won the 2006 manufacturers' world title and which has taken BP-Ford into such a strong position in the 2007 championship."
Team director Jost Capito added: "The regulations mean it is impossible to find huge leaps forward when our car is already so technologically advanced.
"But any performance improvements are always a welcome boost and I believe that Christian and his team have introduced developments that will strengthen our challenge during the final eight rallies of the championship."
Marcus Gronholm currently leads the WRC standings from reigning champion Sebastien Loeb, and team director Malcolm Wilson said that both Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen have been pleased with the car in testing.
"The drivers have completed plenty of kilometers in testing and they are encouraged," he said.
"There are few visible modifications on the outside but it is underneath the skin where most of the changes are found and I'm looking forward to seeing the rewards in Finland and beyond."
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