Ford is officially returning to the World Rally Championship (WRC) as a full factory team. Ford Racing has confirmed plans to relaunch its full factory programme in the world rally series from the 2028 season, reviving a major chapter in the American automaker’s motorsport history.
The comeback marks a significant milestone for Ford, whose last full factory WRC campaign ended after the 2012 season. However, the Ford name never completely disappeared from the championship. In the years that followed, M-Sport continued campaigning Ford rally cars with more limited factory support.
M-SPORT REMAINS FORD’S WEAPON OF CHOICE
Ford will not undertake this comeback alone. The company is once again joining forces with M-Sport, its long-standing partner in the world of rallying for nearly three decades.
From 2028, M-Sport will continue managing the team’s trackside operations, while Ford Racing takes a more direct role as a full factory manufacturer. This marks a new chapter in the partnership, elevating their relationship beyond the technical and commercial support structure that has defined their collaboration in recent years.
The programme is about more than simply putting the Ford badge back on the starting grid. Ford and M-Sport are committed to developing an entirely new WRC car designed to compete under the championship’s upcoming technical regulations.
The new machine is scheduled to make its competitive debut in 2029 under the FIA’s WRC27 regulations. Ford will become the fourth manufacturer to formally commit to developing a car under the new framework.
2027 WILL BE A TRANSITION YEAR
Although Ford’s full factory programme is scheduled to begin in 2028, the company will not wait until then to increase its involvement in the championship.
For the 2027 season, M-Sport is expected to continue competing with an updated Ford Fiesta Rally2, while the WRC begins its transition into the new regulatory era. This transitional period will precede the arrival of Ford’s next-generation WRC car in 2029.
The FIA’s new regulations are designed to make the top level of rallying safer, more flexible and more cost-effective. As part of the effort to control development expenses, the FIA has established a price cap of €345,000 for a fully prepared rally car in asphalt specification.
The new framework is intended to make participation more accessible to manufacturers and independent teams while preserving the technical challenges that define the sport.
MORE THAN JUST RACING
Interestingly, Ford is positioning its WRC programme as part of a broader strategy to develop its road cars.
Jim Baumbick, President of Ford Europe, has emphasised that the engineering experience gained through rally competition will help shape the next generation of Ford passenger vehicles in Europe.
Ford has also outlined plans to introduce five new passenger-car models featuring multiple powertrain options, including electric and hybrid technology, with characteristics and capabilities inspired by rally competition.
In other words, a WRC car is not merely a machine built to chase victories on special stages. Ford wants the experience of tackling slippery surfaces, gravel, jumps, extreme braking zones and constantly changing grip levels to influence the driving characteristics of vehicles available to everyday customers.
This philosophy is what Ford calls “rally-bred.”
FORD EXPANDS ITS GLOBAL MOTORSPORT ATTACK
The WRC comeback is also part of Ford Racing’s wider expansion across multiple motorsport disciplines.
By 2028, Ford is targeting a presence across four FIA World Championships, covering Formula 1, the World Rally-Raid Championship, the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the World Rally Championship.
Ford has already returned to Formula 1 through its partnership with Red Bull Powertrains, while its planned return to the top class of the WEC is scheduled for 2027.
This makes Ford’s motorsport strategy much bigger than a nostalgic return to the days of the Escort, Sierra, Focus, Fiesta or Puma.
The company wants to use motorsport as a global development laboratory, with WRC becoming one of the most important parts of that experiment.
A NEW ERA FOR FORD IN WRC
Ford has more than 50 years of rallying history, with legendary nameplates including the Ford Escort, Sierra, Focus, Fiesta and Puma. Since 1997, M-Sport has operated Ford’s WRC programme and helped the manufacturer secure consecutive constructors’ championships in 2006 and 2007.
Now, after years of competing without a fully fledged factory programme, Ford is preparing to take a much bigger role in the championship once again.
2028 will mark Ford’s return as a full factory team. 2029 will mark the arrival of its new rally weapon.
And when Ford and M-Sport finally bring their next-generation WRC car to the stages, the question will no longer be whether Ford is truly back in rallying.
The real question is: How quickly can Ford and M-Sport turn this comeback into victories?
Adhe is part of the 88 Eight Box Editorial Team, covering JDM culture, motorsport, automotive technology, and industry news. The team focuses on delivering original automotive stories, reviews, and insights for enthusiasts worldwide.
