Ford has announced its participation in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with a fully factory-backed team starting in 2028. This return will be executed alongside M-Sport, the automaker’s rally partner for nearly 30 years.
Ford also announced it will develop a new competition car scheduled to debut in 2029. The race car will draw inspiration from a future model in Ford’s European lineup, though for now, the manufacturer is revealing neither its identity nor its technical specifications.
Increased commitment with M-Sport
The announced return marks Ford's reinstated status as a full factory team with direct involvement in the motorsport program.
The two partners will begin working together immediately on this next phase. Ford Racing will directly participate in M-Sport’s WRC campaign starting in 2028, one year ahead of the new car's arrival.
The press release does not specify which vehicle will be fielded during this transition season. Nor does it provide details regarding drivers, competitive objectives or total resources allocated to the program.
The Escort, Sierra, Focus, Fiesta and Puma rank among the models that have represented Ford in rallying over the decades. The automaker boasts multiple drivers' and manufacturers' world titles in a discipline where vehicles must contend with highly varied road surfaces and conditions.
Five future European models
Ford links this motorsport commitment to the renewal of its passenger car lineup in Europe. The manufacturer plans five new electric and hybrid models, aiming to refine their driving dynamics by drawing on its competition experience.
“We want our next generation of European vehicles to embody this same uncompromising spirit,” stated Jim Baumbick, President of Ford Europe.
According to Ford, rally development work serves – must serve - to improve steering precision, vehicle control and dynamic response for its future European road models.
To be clear, the announcement is not accompanied by a matching one regarding new on-road performance variants. Ford has not brought up the possibility of a new RS or ST line, nor has it said anything about producing a road-legal version of the forthcoming rally car.
A series in transition
Ford’s commitment arrives as the WRC prepares for a new regulatory framework, with new technical rules set to take effect for the 2027 season. The release also highlights the recent acquisition of the championship's commercial rights by Cosmobilis and Park Square Capital.
The timeline for Ford’s return to WRC follows two distinct stages: a full factory commitment starting in 2028, followed by the debut of a new race car in 2029. Future reveals will identify the European production model serving as its foundation and provide further details on the joint program with M-Sport.