Ford Racing will return to the FIA World Rally Championship as a full factory-backed team in 2028, reconnecting its competition program with the development of a new European passenger-car lineup. The automaker says rally testing will help make five upcoming electric and hybrid models more responsive, confidence-inspiring and engaging to drive.

The return marks Ford's move back to the works side of top-level rallying after decades away. Ford has more than 50 years of WRC history, including competition versions of the Escort, Sierra, Focus, Fiesta and Puma. The company also points to multiple manufacturer and driver championships earned during that period.

Ford WRC program and 2029 race car

Ford Racing will work with M-Sport Ltd, its rally partner for the past 30 years. The collaboration begins ahead of Ford's factory-backed campaign, with an all-new WRC race car scheduled to debut in 2029.

The 2029 car will be inspired by one of the five upcoming European passenger vehicles rather than an existing Ford model. That creates a two-season gap between the factory team's return in 2028 and the arrival of the new competition car.

Ford says rallying has already influenced road vehicles across its history, from the 1970 Escort Mexico to the current Ranger Raptor. The company sees competition across asphalt, gravel, ice and sand as a useful durability and handling test for production vehicles.

Five electric and hybrid Ford models

Ford's upcoming European lineup will combine electric and hybrid powertrains. The company has not disclosed specific model names, pricing or on-sale dates, but says the vehicles are being developed for Europe's challenging road conditions.

Jim Baumbick, president of Ford Europe, said the WRC will serve as a proving ground for the next generation of passenger cars. Ford argues that rally conditions reveal weaknesses and handling traits that conventional road testing cannot fully expose.

The practical goal is not simply to transfer rally styling to showroom vehicles. Ford says the program will focus on responsiveness, control and driver engagement, with lessons from the race cars feeding into the way the new passenger models behave on the road.

New WRC rules create a return point

Ford's announcement comes during a broader transition for the championship. Cosmobilis and Park Square Capital recently acquired the WRC's commercial rights, while new technical regulations are scheduled to take effect for the 2027 season.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem linked Ford's return to that changing landscape, noting that three manufacturers are already committed to the new regulations. He also highlighted Ford's wider competition presence, which includes Formula 1 through Red Bull Ford Powertrains, the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship and a planned return to the top category of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027.

Ford also plans to compete in Formula 1 from 2026. With the WRC return, the company says it will have a presence across four FIA World Championships, adding rally competition to an increasingly broad factory racing strategy.