Ford’s full factory-backed return to the FIA World Rally Championship begins in 2028, working with long-time partner M-Sport. The team will bridge the change to the new WRC27 rules with an updated Ford Fiesta Rally2; Ford’s all-new car, inspired by an upcoming European passenger vehicle, is scheduled to debut in 2029.
Ford’s WRC return, year by year
| Year | Programme and car | Ford’s role |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | M-Sport plans to enter an updated Fiesta Rally2 fitted with a WRC kit under the new WRC27 regulations. | The full factory-backed Ford programme has not yet begun; M-Sport is the named operator of the interim entry. |
| 2028 | The Fiesta continues while the replacement car is developed. | Ford Racing joins as a full factory-backed WRC team alongside M-Sport. |
| 2029 | An all-new Ford-M-Sport WRC/Rally1 car, developed for WRC27, is scheduled to make its competitive debut. | Ford and M-Sport will campaign the new car; Ford says it will draw inspiration from an upcoming European passenger vehicle. |
The distinction matters: Ford’s factory-backed return is in 2028, not 2027. The Fiesta’s planned 2027 appearance is the transition programme, ahead of that full works effort.
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Why Ford needs a new WRC car
The championship’s technical framework changes in 2027. Ford’s current Puma Rally1 specification belongs to the outgoing era, so the 2029 entry is being developed and homologated for the WRC27 framework rather than simply continuing that car. Ford and M-Sport have not announced the exact road-car model that will inspire its bodywork.
The FIA describes WRC27 as a reset intended to make top-level rallying safer, more affordable and more accessible. As one cost-control measure, it sets a cap of €345,000 for a ready-to-compete car in asphalt specification, according to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile in 2026. That is a defined specification and cap, not a general price for every car or configuration.
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- FEATURES & DETAILS: This 1:18 scale Ford Puma Rally1 model measures approximately 9 inches in length and recreates the proportions of the modern hybrid rally car used in the World Rally Championship. The model features opening front doors that allow a view of interior cockpit elements including seating and dashboard details. It is finished in the white #16 Rally Sweden 2024 livery driven by Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria. The model is designed for display.
- TOP QUALITY MATERIALS: The model is produced using a diecast metal body combined with precisely molded plastic components for interior parts, wheels, and aerodynamic details. The paint finish and rally graphics reproduce the appearance of the competition vehicle. Exterior body lines, aerodynamic elements, and interior features are reproduced to reflect the design characteristics of the Ford Puma Rally1.
- COLLECTIBLE DISPLAY ITEM: Designed for collectors aged 14 and above, this Ford Puma Rally1 model is intended as a collectible display item rather than a toy. Its recognizable modern rally design and detailed competition livery make it a notable addition to motorsport collections. This 1:18 scale replica also makes a thoughtful gift for rally fans, Ford enthusiasts, and collectors of modern rally vehicles.
What M-Sport’s Fiesta bridge involves
For 2027, M-Sport plans to update the Fiesta Rally2 with a WRC kit. The announced changes include revised aerodynamics, an engine restrictor and electrical components. Ford Racing will work with M-Sport as the factory-backed programme starts in 2028, while the Fiesta continues to cover the period before the new car is ready.
This is an interim route into the WRC27 era, not the announced final shape of Ford’s 2029 effort: the future entry is described as an all-new WRC/Rally1 car.
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Who is building the next Ford rally car?
Ford Racing and M-Sport are working together on the return. M-Sport has been Ford’s long-standing operational partner in rallying, and the two companies’ partnership dates back about 30 years. The FIA characterizes Ford’s return as its first full works WRC programme since 2012.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFord says the 2029 car will be inspired by one of its upcoming European passenger vehicles. It has not identified which model, announced a driver line-up, or provided a more specific competitive debut date than 2029.
Rank #3
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How WRC connects to Ford’s European road cars
Ford presents rallying as a development programme for its European range. The company says competition will help shape five multi-energy electric and hybrid passenger vehicles, with lessons in responsiveness, confidence and driver engagement carried over to road cars. “Multi-energy” describes the range Ford has announced; it does not establish that every vehicle will use the same powertrain.
That road-car link is part of Ford’s stated rationale for returning, but it does not reveal which production model will provide the 2029 rally car’s inspiration.
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- Brand new box.
- Authentic detail
- Real rubber tires. Detailed wheel design
- Detailed interior, exterior.
- Detailed under-chassis
What remains unannounced
- The production model that will inspire the new WRC/Rally1 car.
- The drivers for the 2028 and 2029 programmes.
- A more precise 2029 debut date than the announced year.
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