Hang on, I saw Fords in the WRC this year…
It’s true — watch any of the (excellent — you really should…) World Rally Championship coverage on TV or online and you will indeed have seen Ford Puma WRC cars flinging themselves between trees and along narrow roads at high speeds. The current Ford team includes major Irish interest too, with driver Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne racing alongside Josh McErlan and Eoin Treacy. However, while the cars are Fords, they’re not factory-backed Fords. The current Puma-based team is run by M-Sport, the company founded and run by the great Malcolm Wilson, whichwas previously Ford’s works rally entry. Since 2012, the team has been independently run, albeit with some occasional technical assistance from Ford.
So the new team will be…?
A full-on works effort, of the type that previously brought us the likes of the Lotus Cortina, the Escort RS, the Sierra Cosworth, the Escort Cosworth and the Focus WRC. Ford is one of the best-known names in world rallying, so this is significant news, and a boost for the championship, which has also just signed up the BBC as a global broadcasting partner.
“As we celebrate 125 years of Ford Racing, our 50-year legacy in the WRC stands out as one of our proudest because of its direct connection to the fun and exciting cars that came from that,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Racing. “We can’t wait to compete again in rally racing in 2028 and beyond.”
What happens next?
Ford has said that although the full works team won’t enter until 2028, it will start to work straight away with the current M-Sport squad to improve the performance of the Puma Rally1 car. By 2029, it will have an all-new car ready to roll…
That sounds tantalising.
It is. Ford had previously said that its relaunched European line-up, which will include new compact electric models made with shared Renault technology, will be inspired by the company’s rallying success. "Rallying is where Ford’s character faces its toughest test, and where generations of fans come to share the thrill of seeing a car take on the impossible,” said Jim Baumbick, President, Ford Europe. “We want our next generation of European vehicles to carry that same unapologetic spirit. Responsive, confidence-inspiring and rewarding to drive on the roads people use every day.”
By 2029, the WRC will have introduced its new rally car regulations, which will allow greater freedom for car makers to style what will be largely standardised mechanical parts, with the aim of driving down costs and boosting competitiveness. Well, it’s certainly worked in the World Endurance Championship and Le Mans, another racing arena to which Ford is returning.
What car will Ford’s new rally car be?
The early bets are on a car that will look similar to the incoming new Renault 5-based electric hatchback, which may (or may not) be called Fiesta. The new WRC rules will give Ford the freedom to design its new rally car with the styling of the electric road car, but with a high-revving petrol engine and four-wheel drive. Rival Toyota is known to be developing a bespoke rally car under the new regulations, which may lead to a new Celica model for the road. And it looks as if Ford will be taking some similar inspiration for future road-going rally-inspired models.
“In addition to helping the new rally-bred lineup for Europe, returning to WRC also builds on Ford’s global dominance in the commitment to leading in the off-road space in both passenger vehicles and in racing, where vehicles such as Ranger Raptor have become the benchmark for capability both on and off the beaten path. When Ford laid out its new passenger vehicle vision for Europe, the brand promised vehicles designed specifically for Europe’s ‘perfectly imperfect roads’. You can’t fake it on Europe’s roads, which is why a car’s responsiveness and handling matters,” said Baumbick. “The WRC is the ultimate proving ground for control and driver engagement, and that is the exact spirit and lessons learned we are injecting into our next generation of passenger vehicles.”
This is all wonderful news!
Isn’t it? Bobble hat and Cibie lights at the ready! President of the FIA, the governing body of world motor sport, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said: “Today’s announcement represents another significant moment for the FIA World Rally Championship. With a new promoter in place, three constructors already committed to the new technical regulations, and now Ford confirming its return as a full works manufacturer, there is real momentum behind the championship’s next era. Ford is one of the great names in motorsport and its commitment to FIA World Championships continues to grow. The manufacturer returned to Formula 1 this year, is competing at the highest level of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, will return to the top category of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027, and from 2028 will once again compete as a works manufacturer in the WRC. That will give Ford a presence across four FIA World Championships and demonstrates the importance it places on motorsport as a global platform, and laboratory, for its brand, products and technologies. I had the privilege of driving for Ford during my own career so welcoming them back is a particularly special moment for me. The WRC continues to grow, and this long-term commitment from such an iconic manufacturer is a testament to the strength of the championship.”
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