Ford WRC return: Major, exciting 2028 comeback with M-Sport
Ford will return to the FIA World Rally Championship as a full factory team in 2028, the automaker and the FIA announced Thursday, Oct. 1. The Ford WRC return ends a works absence that dates to 2012, according to the FIA, and Ford says the program is tied directly to a new European lineup of “multi-energy” electric and hybrid road cars.
Ford WRC return: What the automaker announced
Ford Racing will again partner with M-Sport, the British team it has worked with since 1997, on an all-new Rally1 car built to the WRC27 technical rules, according to the FIA. That car is scheduled to debut at the start of the 2029 season, DirtFish reported. In 2027, Ford will support M-Sport as it runs a Ford Fiesta under the new regulations, the outlet added.
Ford’s rally history, the foundation for the Ford WRC return, stretches back about 50 years, through the Escort, Sierra, Focus, Fiesta and Puma, and the brand won manufacturer and driver world titles along the way.
Jim Baumbick, president of Ford Europe, linked the racing program to the next generation of road cars. “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,” Baumbick said, adding that the upcoming lineup should feel “responsive, confidence-inspiring, and rewarding to drive,” according to Motor1.
Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Racing, tied the comeback to the 125th anniversary of Ford Racing. “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,” Rushbrook said. “We can’t wait to compete again in rally racing in 2028 and beyond.”
What the Ford WRC return means for fans
Ford plans to roll out five “multi-energy, rally-bred road cars” in 2028 and 2029, and the new WRC car will be derived from that lineup, according to DirtFish. Baumbick framed rallying as a test that exposes weaknesses ordinary development can miss, which makes the program engineering work as much as marketing.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said Ford’s commitment adds to the championship’s momentum. “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,” he said in the FIA announcement.
Ford now has programs in Formula 1, the World Endurance Championship and the World Rally-Raid Championship, and the WRC entry will give it a presence in four FIA world championships, the FIA said. Ben Sulayem also made it personal: “I had the privilege of driving for Ford during my own career, so welcoming them back is a particularly special moment for me,” he said, according to DirtFish.
Background
The Ford WRC return arrives as the company reshapes its product and corporate strategy. The automaker formed a new Product Creation and Industrialization organization in April 2026 to speed up development of electric and software-defined vehicles, led by Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra, according to MotorTrend.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has also told employees that Chinese automakers could enter the U.S. market within the next decade, according to Reuters, part of a broader push to make Ford’s cars sharper and more cost-competitive. Other carmakers are rethinking their lineups, too, as seen in the Mazda Changan EV expansion.
What’s next
The Ford WRC return begins with the factory effort in 2028, and M-Sport and Ford have two seasons to finish the new Rally1 car before its 2029 debut. Car and driver details are expected in the months ahead. For more motoring and hobby coverage, visit our Special Interests section.
Reporting from the FIA, DirtFish, Reuters, Motor1 and MotorTrend contributed to this story.