Ford Motor Company is staging a full factory return to the World Rally Championship for the 2028 season. A brand-new rally car, engineered in collaboration with long-standing partner M-Sport, is slated to make its competitive debut in the 2029 WRC campaign.
Engineering the Next Generation of European Road Cars
Company executives are positioning the upcoming factory comeback as a direct callback to the brand’s foundational motorsport roots. Ford leans on competitive racing to sharpen the engineering of its passenger vehicles, and the firm plans to carry that philosophy straight into the top tier of international rallying. The engineering data gathered across brutal gravel and asphalt stages will feed directly into the development of five upcoming electric and hybrid passenger vehicles bound for European showrooms.
“Právě v rallye prochází charakter vozů Ford nejtěžší zkouškou. Chceme, aby si stejnou nekompromisní povahu nesla i naše nová generace evropských modelů,” Jim Baumbick, president of Ford of Europe, stated in the manufacturer’s announcement. Baumbick said future street cars must deliver sharp steering responses, driver confidence, and an engaging everyday driving experience forged under intense competitive pressure.
A Half-Century of Dirt and Trophies
The 2028 WRC return lands squarely on the 125th anniversary of Ford Racing. Within that grander timeline, Ford’s involvement in the World Rally Championship stretches across 50 years.
“Tato etapa patří k tomu, na co jsme jako značka nejvíce hrdí,” Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Racing, said regarding the brand’s five-decade rally heritage. Decades of specialized motorsport development have historically spawned iconic production iterations, ranging from the Escort Mexico launched in 1970 to modern performance-oriented utility vehicles like the Ranger Raptor. Beyond inspiring showroom models, Ford’s historical rally programs locked down numerous manufacturers’ and drivers’ world titles while cultivating elite driving talent.
FIA Welcomes Ford Return to Championship
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile greeted the manufacturer’s pledge as a critical indicator of stability and growth for the championship’s upcoming regulatory framework. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the governing body, credited fresh promotion efforts and incoming technical rules with driving renewed manufacturer interest.
“Šampionát má nového promotéra, tři výrobci se již zavázali k účasti podle nových technických předpisů a nyní Ford potvrdil návrat jako plnohodnotný tovární tým. Nová éra šampionátu tak získává skutečnou dynamiku,” Ben Sulayem said in an official statement released by the FIA.
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