Ford's Future in the World Rally Championship

By Motoring Channel Staff - 09/11/2004

Ford recently made its intentions clear that it would be contesting the World Rally Championship for at least the next four years, and has also released early photography of its stunning 2006 RS Focus rally car.

Ford decided to renew its WRC membership thanks in part to changes the FIA will make next year (2005) to ensure the sport is more affordable.

Jost Capito, director of the Ford Team RS, said "Our review showed there is a strong business case for Ford's continued involvement [in WRC]. The proposals from the FIA to reduce the costs of competing in the WRC, via revisions to the regulations, convinced us to continue long term."

This comes after the Blue Oval pulled out of the Formula One championship with its Jaguar team, largely due to spiralling costs, and it appears to be a sound move by the massive automaker.

While Formula One provides huge promotional possibilities, its popularity is waning somewhat, while the WRC on the other hand is gaining support week by week.

The Jaguar F1 team wasn't exactly in a position to challenge front-runners like Ferrari and BMW-Williams either, despite Aussie driver Mark Webber's best (and most impressive) efforts.

A Ford World Rally Championship driver or constructor title is much more likely than an F1 crown, and let's face it - popping into your Ford dealer and buying a Focus hatchback is a lot easier than getting into an F1 car.

So, as the World Rally Championship winds down for another year, Ford has entered into a four-year agreement with Malcolm Wilson's British-based M-Sport company, which has operated Ford's WRC programme for the past eight years.

The commitment ensures Ford's continuing presence at the top level of world rallying with the highly successful Focus - but don't expect the newly released 2005 road going model to appear all dolled-up in rally livery for next years opening event in January in Monte-Carlo.

Instead, the existing Focus RS WRC will be Ford's challenger in the 2005 championship, which could be a very clever move by the team, as everyone involved - particularly the drivers - are well accustomed to its idiosyncrasies.

An all-new Focus RS WRC rally car, pictured right, will be based on the new road car which goes on sale in Europe later this month, and will be introduced from the 2006 season onwards.

"We have carried out a long and comprehensive review of the motorsport scene and Ford's involvement in it," said Lewis Booth, CEO of Ford Europe.

"I'm delighted to announce that the headline news in that strategy is that Ford will enter into a long-term commitment to the World Rally Championship. We have further strengthened our long-running partnership with Malcolm Wilson's M-Sport company."

Ford Focus 2006 RS WRC Concept Breaks Cover

Following the announcement of its four-year commitment to the FIA World Rally Championship, Ford of Europe has shown what the new generation Ford Focus RS WRC could look like (pictured).

M-Sport, working with Ford Team RS, has produced this vision of an all-new Focus rally car. The dynamic lines of the new Ford Focus, and especially the coupe-like stance of the 3-door model, provide the perfect base for the dramatic looking 2006 Focus RS WRC concept.

Sporting a proud Blue Oval livery the Focus 2006 RS WRC concept shares design cues with the existing Focus RS WRC that will be the company's challenger in the 2005 championship. The standard road car's prominent wheel arches are matched to a full width front spoiler and generous bonnet air vents. A roof mounted air scoop and a characteristic rear spoiler contribute to the functional WRC-inspired appearance.

Despite the WRC add-ons and design changes that draw strongly on the existing Focus rally car, the Focus 2006 RS WRC concept is markedly different with its faster rear screen angle, in particular, indicating a visually more aggressive rally car.

The new generation Focus will continue a family tradition that has seen the model provide the backbone of Ford's motorsport activity since 1999. It is appropriate that a car so widely praised for its driving quality will continue to provide the base for Ford's future rally activities and the WRC will be the perfect showcase for the dynamic attributes of the new Focus from 2006 onwards.

The unveiling of the Focus 2006 WRC concept signals the start of a 14-month programme that will see the fully developed rally car compete in the opening round of the 2006 season.

New Ford Focus RS WRC

The new generation Focus will continue a family tradition that has seen the model provide the backbone of Ford's motorsport activity since 1999. With the launch of the new generation Ford Focus well underway, Ford believes it provides a strong new base for future rally activities.

Ford will showcase an all-new Ford Focus RS WRC in World Championship Rallying from 2006, using the best part of 2005 to develop and thoroughly test the new model.

"Ford's long-term commitment to the WRC will provide a great boost to the sport," said Jost Capito, director of the Ford Team RS.

"Ford has been involved in rallying since before the World Rally Championship was conceived," Capito said. "Our continuation in WRC is excellent news for the championship and emphasises just how much the sport has developed in recent years. Since 1997, we have worked closely with M-Sport to develop a world class rally team operating from world class facilities at Malcolm Wilson's Dovenby Hall premises. We believe that the infrastructure is now in place for us to move forward and build a team capable of bringing world titles to Ford," he added.

The Partnership with M-Sport

Ford of Europe's four-year commitment strengthens considerably its partnership with M-Sport, and Malcolm Wilson had plenty of praise to shower on his employers: "I would like to thank Ford for the confidence it has shown in M-Sport by extending our partnership for the next four years. I also wish to express my gratitude to my team at Dovenby Hall, which has put such huge effort and enthusiasm into the programme for the past eight seasons.

"A four-year programme allows us the opportunity to develop the new Ford Focus into a challenger for WRC success," continued Wilson. "Development of the new car will begin immediately and will run alongside our existing WRC commitments throughout the 2005 season. We have 14 months from now until the opening round of the 2006 season so the timescale is set for us to work to.

"We have the strongest structure in place at Dovenby Hall, both in terms of experienced personnel and facilities, since M-Sport took over responsibility for the programme at the end of 1996. That will be used to design what I am sure will be a winning car for 2006 onwards, while continuing to maintain the high standards we have set with the current Focus RS WRC during 2004," he added.