Here is the news the World Rally Championship has been waiting for: as Motorsport.com Italia reports, Ford Racing is officially making its comeback to the series as a factory team starting in 2028. There is a small catch for the fans, though. The brand's brand-new machine will not make its competitive debut until the following year, in 2029.
To make it happen, the blue oval will continue its alliance with M-Sport, a partnership that has already spanned over 30 years in the stages. Both names will join forces immediately, hitting the ground running in 2028 to prepare for the massive shift ahead. For that upcoming 2029 season, Ford Racing and M-Sport are building a totally brand-new car inspired by one of the upcoming European models that the American manufacturer plans to release on the market.
It is a massive endorsement for a championship that is currently undergoing some serious changes. The announcement arrives on the heels of Cosmobilis and Park Square Capital acquiring the commercial rights to the global rally championship, alongside a fresh set of technical regulations arriving next season to shake up the premier class.
“Non c’è terreno che metta alla prova il carattere di un’auto Ford come il rally. Ed è proprio lì che fan e appassionati sentono davvero il brivido di un'auto che sfida l’impossibile,” Jim Baumbick, President of Ford Europe, stated. “Vogliamo che la nostra prossima generazione di vetture porti avanti quello stesso spirito senza compromessi: vogliamo auto reattive, affidabili, e divertenti da guidare nella vita di tutti i giorni.”
Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Racing, added: “Ford Racing ha una storia di 125 anni; ben 50 trascorsi a competere nel WRC: per noi è motivo di grande orgoglio. perché è proprio da questa esperienza che nascono auto in grado di emozionare, performanti e divertenti. Non vediamo l'ora di tornare in strada.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also welcomed the news, pointing out that Ford's return alongside a new promoter and three manufacturers committed to the new technical rules gives the championship real momentum as it heads into a brand-new era.
