CAP's manufacturer relationships manager Martin Ward scours the globe for the week's insider fleet intelligence

Monday

Down to Silverstone to try the new Ford Focus RS, which follows a long line of RS models stretching back to 1970.

This new ultra-hot-hatch produces 305bhp from a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine – and it flies.

I was taken round the track by a professional driver and was amazed at the way it went round any corner at ridiculous speeds – and this is a road car.

Ford did consider using four-wheel drive, but decided to use front-wheel drive because of the extra weight issue.

The Focus RS costs £25,740 and Ford has already taken 2,100 orders for it – for the performance on offer, I’m not surprised.

On a different (and slower) note, the new Fiesta is selling exceptionally well with 44,000 sold already – 20,000 of those were in March alone.

The new Ka has sold more than 6,000 units and Ford expects the new front-wheel drive Kuga SUV to take 30% of the model mix.

Thursday

Over to Lisbon for Mazda’s European fleet conference, and another chance to drive the all-new Mazda3.

James Hopkins, in his new role of head of fleet and remarketing in Europe after leaving the same post in the UK at the end of 2008, and Jeffrey Guyton, president and CEO of Mazda Motor Europe, told us that the company has increased market share in Europe despite lower sales volumes.

Sales in Germany in February were up by 23%, thanks to the scrappage incentive operated by the German government.

Hopkins is determined to increase fleet sales across Europe, but it will be a long-term plan.

The UK’s fleet operation is fairly well established compared to other European countries, so they have some catching up to do on the continent.

The all-new Mazda3 is certainly a strong contender in the lower-medium sector. It is a very quiet car, and probably as good as the class-leading Volkswagen Golf for noise, vibration and harshness.

Guyton told me this new car is exactly the right car at the right time, and I think he is right.

Mazda, though, has never really had a large fleet presence in the sector, but the new 3 may change that. It will appeal to a wider audience than the previous car and the 323 before that, and is now a worthy contender.

My choice would be the 1.6-litre TS diesel with CO2 emissions of 119g/km and a price tag of £15,760.