Ford will return to the FIA World Rally Championship as a full factory-backed manufacturer in 2028 before introducing an all-new WRC car with M-Sport in 2029.
Ford has confirmed a full works return to the FIA World Rally Championship from 2028, strengthening its long-standing relationship with M-Sport before the introduction of an entirely new rally car one year later.
The programme will bring Ford Racing directly into the WRC operation from 2028, with Ford and M-Sport then developing a new car for 2029 inspired by one of the manufacturer’s upcoming European passenger vehicles.
Ford Returns as a Full Works WRC Manufacturer
The move marks a significant expansion of Ford’s role in top-level rallying.
Ford has remained closely associated with WRC through M-Sport, but the 2028 programme will restore direct factory involvement at a time when the championship is preparing for a new technical era.
“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 Ford Europe president Jim Baumbick. “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.”
New Ford WRC Car Planned for 2029
The largest technical step will come in 2029.
Ford Racing and M-Sport will develop an all-new WRC car, with the project taking inspiration from one of five new “multi-energy” electric and hybrid passenger vehicles being prepared for the European market.
That gives Ford’s rally return a clear road-car connection, with the WRC programme intended to influence the handling, control and durability of its future European models.
M-Sport Partnership Continues Into a New Era
Ford will again rely on M-Sport Ltd, its rally partner of 30 years, for the programme.
The two organisations will begin working on the expanded project immediately, with Ford Racing becoming directly involved in the campaign from 2028 before the new-generation car arrives the following season.
“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,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Racing. “We can’t wait to compete again in rally racing in 2028 and beyond.”
Source: Ford Press Site.
Escort, Focus, Fiesta and Puma Built Ford’s Rally Legacy
Ford’s WRC history stretches across several of its most recognisable performance models.
Rally versions of the Escort, Sierra, Focus, Fiesta and Puma have all played major roles across more than 50 years of World Rally Championship competition.
That history has included manufacturer and drivers’ world championships, while rally success has also influenced road-going models such as the Escort Mexico and, more recently, the Ranger Raptor.
WRC to Shape Ford’s Next European Road Cars
Ford is positioning the WRC programme as a development platform for its future European passenger vehicles.
The company believes rallying’s combination of broken asphalt, gravel, ice and other unpredictable surfaces provides the right environment to develop the responsiveness and driver engagement it wants from its next-generation models.
“You can’t fake it on Europe’s roads, which is why a car’s responsiveness and handling matters,” said Baumbick. “The WRC is the ultimate proving ground for control and driver engagement, and that is the exact spirit and lessons learned we are injecting into our next generation of passenger vehicles.”
Ford Joins the WRC’s New Regulatory Cycle
The announcement comes as the championship prepares for major changes.
New WRC technical regulations will come into effect from 2027, while Cosmobilis and Park Square Capital have recently acquired the championship’s commercial rights.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem described Ford’s commitment as another important step for the series.
“Today’s announcement represents another significant moment for the FIA World Rally Championship. 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.”
Ford Expands Across Four FIA World Championships
Ford’s WRC return will also broaden its presence across international motorsport.
According to Ben Sulayem, the manufacturer will compete across four FIA World Championships through programmes in Formula 1, the World Rally-Raid Championship, the World Endurance Championship and WRC.
That gives the 2028 rally return a wider significance within Ford’s global racing strategy.
The new programme will begin with renewed factory involvement alongside M-Sport before reaching its key technical milestone in 2029. For Ford, the objective is clear: return to the championship with a new generation of rally machinery while reconnecting WRC competition directly with the development of its European road cars.
