Ford has confirmed it will return to the FIA World Rally Championship as a full factory-backed manufacturer from 2028, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the company’s long association with international rallying. The move will see Ford Racing increase its involvement alongside long-time partner M-Sport, with the two organisations beginning work together immediately. Ford will become directly involved in the WRC programme from 2028, ahead of the planned debut of an all-new Ford WRC car in 2029. Significantly, that car will take inspiration from one of Ford’s forthcoming new European passenger vehicles.
The WRC programme will also play a role in the development of Ford’s next generation of European road cars. The company is preparing five new multi-energy electric and hybrid passenger vehicles, with Ford intending to use lessons learned in rallying to influence areas such as handling, responsiveness, durability and driver engagement.
“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.”
Ford and M-Sport have worked together for around 30 years, while Ford’s involvement in international rallying stretches back considerably further. Competition versions of the Escort, Sierra, Focus, Fiesta and, more recently, Puma have all played major roles during more than 50 years of WRC competition. Rallying has also influenced some of Ford’s most memorable performance road cars, from the Escort Mexico through to today’s Ranger Raptor. The timing of Ford’s renewed commitment coincides with a period of significant change for the WRC. New technical regulations are due to come into force from the 2027 season, while Cosmobilis and Park Square Capital have recently acquired the championship’s commercial rights.
Ford Racing Global Director Mark Rushbrook said the company’s rallying history remains particularly important as Ford Racing celebrates its 125th anniversary. “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. We can’t wait to compete again in rally racing in 2028 and beyond.”
The WRC return forms part of a much broader expansion of Ford’s factory motorsport activities. The manufacturer is also involved at the highest level of rally-raid competition, has returned to Formula 1 and is preparing to return to the top category of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027. For Ford’s European road-car operation, however, rallying will have a particularly direct purpose. The company says its next generation of vehicles is being developed specifically for Europe’s “perfectly imperfect roads”, with the demands of WRC competition providing a proving ground for chassis control and driver engagement.
“The WRC is the ultimate proving ground for control and driver engagement,” added Baumbick, “and that is the exact spirit and lessons learned we are injecting into our next generation of passenger vehicles.”
