Ford will return to the World Rally Championship as a full factory team in 2028, partnering with M-Sport to develop an all-new race car for the 2029 season under new FIA regulations.
The blue-oval brand announced its upcoming works comeback at the WRC season finale in Sardinia, marking its first full factory-backed presence in the sport since 2012. M-Sport has kept Ford machinery on stages for decades, but the new agreement brings Ford Racing directly into the campaign starting in 2027 with direct support, leading to full factory status in 2028.
Ford’s factory involvement in rallying traces back to the 1970s, when the manufacturer claimed a first manufacturers’ crown in 1979. Over more than five decades of international rallying, Ford cars have won 94 WRC rallies, and legendary drivers have achieved memorable victories behind the wheel of fast Ford rally machines including the Escort, Sierra, Focus, Fiesta, and Puma. M-Sport previously operated Ford’s official WRC program starting in 1997, capturing two manufacturers’ crowns in 2006 and 2007, before the manufacturer withdrew its full factory support at the conclusion of 2012 and provided technical support instead.
Ford and M-Sport Build the 2029 Rally1 Car
The program will build on a 30-year operational history between Ford Racing and M-Sport Ltd. M-Sport will field an upgraded version of the Ford Fiesta Rally2 car next year before the brand-new car arrives for the 2029 campaign, utilizing an update kit designed to compete alongside new 2027 technical regulations. The Ford Fiesta Rally2 will continue to be utilized throughout 2028 before the arrival of the brand-new car built to the new technical rules for the 2029 season.
The WRC27 technical regulations are engineered around safety, affordability, flexibility, and accessibility, capping the price of a ready-to-compete car at €345,000 in asphalt specification. Ford becomes the fourth constructor to commit to developing a car under these new rules. Ford’s upcoming 2029 race machine will draw direct inspiration from one of the passenger vehicles in Ford of Europe’s upcoming lineup rather than an existing model shell. The company announced in May that it will launch seven new models in Europe by 2029 as part of its strategy targeting the continent’s roads.
Ford Expands Its Global Motorsport Portfolio
The rally commitment arrives as Ford celebrates 125 years of Ford Racing and weaves motorsport testing directly into its road car development. Company executives emphasized that stage competition serves as a proving ground for future passenger models.
“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.”
Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Racing
The WRC program expands Ford’s footprint across international motorsport, giving the company a presence across four FIA World Championships. The manufacturer returned to the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2026 alongside Red Bull, competes in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship including the annual Dakar Rally in January, and is preparing to return to the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027.
Ford Returns as Full Works Manufacturer
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem spoke about securing another major manufacturer under the new ruleset.
“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.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA president
Ford Europe President Jim Baumbick added that the racing program provides an unapologetic character that helps differentiate the brand in a fast-changing European market where Chinese automakers are expanding rapidly. Which specific passenger vehicle from Ford of Europe’s upcoming lineup will inspire the 2029 race machine has not yet been named?