FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem welcomed Ford’s return to the FIA World Rally Championship as a full factory team from 2028, describing the move as another significant moment for the series. In a statement, Ben Sulayem pointed to the new promoter, commitments from three constructors to the fresh technical rules and the resulting momentum for the championship’s next phase. The president, who drove for Ford in his own racing career, called the development a special moment and a testament to the WRC’s growing strength. He noted that the American manufacturer will soon compete across four FIA World Championships.
According to the FIA, Ford will collaborate with long-time partner M-Sport to run the works programme from 2028 before introducing an all-new car built to the WRC27 regulations in 2029. FIA data places the cost cap for cars under the new regulations at €345,000, representing more than a 50 percent reduction from the current generation while allowing flexibility in bodywork built around a common safety cell. A Reuters report placed Ford’s previous full factory effort in the WRC at 2012, after which M-Sport continued competing with Ford-powered entries under technical support from the manufacturer.
Ford Racing global director Mark Rushbrook stated that the timing aligns with both the WRC’s new era and the company’s plans to develop rally-inspired European passenger vehicles. The manufacturer aims to draw on its 50-year legacy in the championship to create exciting road cars for customers. Ford currently maintains a presence in the WRC through M-Sport’s Puma Rally1 cars and will increase its involvement ahead of the full factory return.
The FIA statement emphasised that Ford will maintain a factory programme in Formula One, the World Endurance Championship from 2027 and the World Rally-Raid Championship in addition to the WRC. This spread across four FIA world titles highlights the value the company assigns to motorsport as a development platform for its brand and technology. Ben Sulayem added that Ford remains one of the great names in the sport whose commitment continues to expand.
Reuters reported that Ford cars have claimed 94 victories in the WRC along with manufacturers’ titles in 1979, 2006 and 2007. The partnership between Ford and M-Sport stretches back to 1997, making it one of the longest-running in the championship. WRC Promoter CEO Eric Boullier expressed delight at the return of Ford as a full factory team and looked forward to the new chapter.
The announcement came at the 2026 WRC season finale in Sardinia, where further details on the immediate steps were shared. M-Sport will field an upgraded Ford Fiesta Rally2 in 2027 using a homologated kit to compete alongside the new-generation cars. This interim measure will allow continued representation while development of the 2029 machine advances.
