WRC: Ford builds its 2029 car ahead of 2028 factory return
The newsroomUpdated on October 23, 20263 minFord returns to the WRC as a factory team in 2028 with M-Sport and has begun its all-new 2029 Rally1 car: homologation due end 2028, Fiesta kit car tested.
Key point
Ford returns to the WRC as a factory team in 2028 and is already developing an all-new Rally1 car for 2029, due to be homologated by the end of 2028.
Ford is doing more than announcing its return to the World Rally Championship (WRC): according to DirtFish, the brand has already begun work on its future rally car for 2029. The project starts more than two years before the car's racing debut, after the announcement of an official return in 2028 with M-Sport.
Factory return announced on 1 October
Ford confirmed on 1 October 2026 that it will come back to the World Rally Championship as a full factory team from 2028, alongside long-term partner M-Sport. It will be Ford's first full factory programme since 2012. According to Autosport, the announcement was made at the season finale in Sardinia.
Reuters reports that Ford is the fourth manufacturer to commit to building a Rally1 car for 2029 under the FIA's WRC27 regulations, which aim to cut costs at the top level. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says three manufacturers had already committed before Ford. Ford cars have won 94 world championship rallies, and the former factory team took three manufacturers' titles.
An all-new car for 2029
According to DirtFish, the 2029 car is an entirely new design, carrying over nothing from the Fiesta Rally2 or the Puma Rally1. Its homologation must be completed by the end of 2028. M-Sport team principal Matthew Wilson tested the 2027-specification car in Catalonia, then travelled to Ford Performance's technical centre in North Carolina for preliminary simulations of the 2029 model. The stated aim is to start 2029 with a very competitive car.
Ford has not yet said which production model the car will draw on. According to Autosport, the brand plans five new products for Europe, four of them rally-bred, and one of them is likely to be the base.
The WRC-kit Fiesta as a bridge
To bridge the gap, M-Sport will run a Fiesta Rally1 with a WRC kit in 2027, which showed good first results on tarmac and gravel in Catalonia. Compared with the Rally2, the rear wing and front bumper are changed, the engine restrictor gains 1 mm and the boost-pressure control is modified. Matthew Wilson expects a tight fight with Toyota next season, without being able to promise it. He also points to Citroën, which withdrew and later returned with a new car.
Key points
- Ford factory return to the WRC in 2028, with M-Sport.
- New Rally1 car in 2029, to be homologated by the end of 2028.
- WRC-kit Fiesta as the interim car in 2027.
- Drivers, budget and the base model of the 2029 car: not yet announced.
Frequently asked questions
When does Ford return to the WRC as a factory team?
In 2028, alongside M-Sport, according to the announcement of 1 October 2026. It will be Ford's first full factory programme since 2012.
When will Ford's new car be ready?
It is planned for 2029: according to DirtFish, its homologation must be finished by the end of 2028. It is an all-new design.
Which car will Ford run in 2027?
M-Sport will field a Fiesta Rally1 with a WRC kit as an interim car, tested in Catalonia.
Sources
- DirtFish — Ford starts work on its 2029 WRC challenger
- Autosport — The reasons behind Ford's WRC return
- TimesLIVE (Reuters) — Ford to make full factory return to WRC in 2028
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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