IN THIS FEATURE Filling the hole The best of both worlds Come on, feel the noise Fun through the bends Plenty of kit to boot Back from its sabbatical

Its not just quick in a straight line, though - where's the fun in that? TeamRS have worked on the already fantastic chassis of the regular Focus - which would put many a sports car to shame - by adding a strut brace at the front, stiffening both front and rear springs by 30% and increasing the rear anti-roll bar by 5%.

This additional stiffness in the chassis hasn't made the ST a shuddering mess to drive over ruts and bumps, soaking them up with amazing smoothness, while also rewarding you with sublime body control and minimal roll through corners. The chassis is so good, the (optional) ESP is rarely troubled, only cutting in progressively when you really need it.

ST is no stripped-down racer like the old RS was

The only minor gripe is that the steering feels a bit numb at low speeds, but it does load up nicely when you put the power down in corners, letting you feel exactly what's happening under the front wheels. Torque steer is apparent, but only when you give it full beans, and even then, it isn't as intrusive as with the old RS or Astra VXR.

However, it's worth bearing in mind that the ST is no stripped-down racer in the mould of the old RS. The ST tips the scales at 1,317kg, whereas the old RS looks almost anorexic with its 1,175kg kerb weight. Through corners you can really feel the multi-link rear suspension load up under this weight.