Ford to return to WRC with factory team in 2028
For the first time since 2012, Ford will go rallying - and there's a new car coming, too...
Ford has a long and illustrious history in world rallying. From Escort to Puma and Focus to Sierra, some legendary drivers have achieved memorable victories in fast Ford rally cars. Over more than half a century, blue oval rally cars have built quite the reputation for themselves. To say nothing of the road machines they’ve spawned…
So when Ford confirms that it’s making a return to the WRC, the world listens. There’s simply too much history, too many wins, too many incredible liveries in the back catalogue not to care. While M-Sport prepped (and Ford supported) Puma WRCs have competed over the past few seasons, there hasn’t been a dedicated Ford factory effort since 2012. Manufacturers have become notable by their absence in recent years, with just Toyota and Hyundai running fully fledged campaigns; in that context, the return of Ford is even more significant.
M-Sport will remain on the scene, a Ford rally partner for 30 years now. Following the factory’s involvement from 2028, a brand new rally car will come for the ‘29 season. With new regulations coming for 2027, and Ford in Europe still establishing exactly what its future offering will look like, it isn’t clear what the rally car will be yet. All we know is that it is ‘taking inspiration from one of the upcoming all-new European passenger vehicles.’
“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, Ford Europe’s President. “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.”
The announcement is perhaps as exciting as the motorsport return; the lack of performance-oriented models hasn’t gone unnoticed by Ford fans of late, so a ‘new European portfolio of rally-bred passenger vehicles’, ones designed for ‘perfectly imperfect roads’, is very promising indeed. Because the Mach-E Rally wasn’t really, to be honest.
With Formula 1 involvement alongside Red Bull, Mustang race cars, a Dakar Ranger, the return to top-level sportscars and now a dedicated rally effort once more, nobody could accuse Ford of not fully embracing motorsport in the 2020s. An enthusiast landscape doesn’t quite feel right without Ford playing a prominent part; let’s hope this WRC return is part of a proper renaissance. Especially as we'll be able to watch it for free (sort of) from next year...
Good luck to them, nevertheless.
They don't have any passenger cars to sell, and a Transit or Ranger won't work on the WRC. A re-badged Renault 5 (even if a tubular chassis silhouette) isn't going to cut it.
They don't have any passenger cars to sell, and a Transit or Ranger won't work on the WRC. A re-badged Renault 5 (even if a tubular chassis silhouette) isn't going to cut it.
They don't have any passenger cars to sell, and a Transit or Ranger won't work on the WRC. A re-badged Renault 5 (even if a tubular chassis silhouette) isn't going to cut it.
This is how factory teams in WRC work. Toyotas cars are engineered in Finland. They Hyundais are made in Germany by mostly European engineers. Subarus back in the day were run and built by Prodrive. Etc.
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