Ford Motor Company Sells the Jaguar F1 Team to Red Bull

What the purchase of the Northampton-based, motor sport technology

While Ford is pulling its stakes out of F1, they have confirmed their commitment to the World Rally Championship. It no doubt helps that their WRC team is very competitive. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

engineering company does for Kalkhoven and Forsythe, however, is guarantee an engine supply for their struggling Champ Car World Series. While it offers exciting open wheel action, Champ Car is up against the rival Indy Racing League (IRL) series, which holds the famed Indianapolis 500 as its crowning jewel and incidentally featured a duo of car in Red Bull's blue, red and yellow livery during the 2003 season. Up until this year IRL events have only been held on oval tracks, although three road courses are being added for 2005. This will be seen as a direct threat to Champ Car, which predominantly features road and street courses, with only a handful of ovals as part of the calendar. As part of the sale of Cosworth Racing, Ford will most likely lose its title sponsorship of the Champ Car World Series, previously given the long-in-mouth name of "Bridgestone presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford".

So other than a recommitment to the World Rally Championship, just prior to a major shock to the series which now sees PSA entrants Peugeot and Citroen pulling out, what lays ahead for Ford Motor Company, which has been

Ford's Premier Auto Group, and especially Jaguar, has to refocus on being successful in the showroom before it can consider being successful again on the track. (Photo: Jaguar Cars North America)

a force within the F1 paddock for more than three decades.

"Having taken the tough decision to exit Formula One after over 35 years in the sport, our focus has been to secure the best future for our Formula One businesses and our employees," said Mark Fields, executive vice president, Ford of Europe and chairman and CEO, Premier Automotive Group. "We now will concentrate our efforts to improve the results of Jaguar Cars and the Premier Automotive Group," added Fields.

Basically, Ford's Premier Auto Group can't continue losing on the track and in the showroom, and with Formula One racing not proving a bonus to the beleaguered nameplate's bottom line, it had to go. Selling Jaguar Racing and Cosworth is part of a series of "improvement actions" Ford announced on the 17 of September, 2004, specifically for its Jaguar Cars unit.

Along with its WRC efforts, Ford will also be involved in other motorsport series such as participation in the new World Touring Car Championship, plus on- going support for Formula Ford. Only two weeks ago, Aston Martin unveiled its DBR9 sports car that will return the marque to Le Mans in 2005 (see news archives for Nov 8, 2004: Aston Martin Returns to Racing with the DBR9), as well as in selected GT1 events. In North America Ford is actively involved in a variety of motorsport series, including NASCAR. Jaguar even continues on in racing, having dominated the Trans Am series for years. No doubt, the blue oval will once again be back battling it out at the top ranks of motorsport in years to come.