Ford Racing to Re-enter WRC from 2028, Steering Rally Tech Toward Passenger Cars

Ford announced from Dearborn that it will rejoin the FIA World Rally Championship as a factory-backed team in 2028, aiming to influence a new European range of rally-derived passenger vehicles.

Ford Racing, working from its Dearborn headquarters, will return to the FIA World Rally Championship as a full factory-backed program beginning in 2028. The announcement frames the move as a continuation of the company’s five-decade rally heritage and confirms collaboration with long-time partner M-Sport Ltd. on a new WRC car slated to debut in 2029.

For Michigan automotive fans, the significance is twofold: the program is being driven out of Ford’s Dearborn base, and the stated goal is to transfer rally-developed technologies and capabilities into the next generation of European passenger models. That suggests engineering and motorsports developments originating in Michigan could influence future consumer vehicles bearing Ford’s name.

What’s known next is the timeline: Ford Racing will enter WRC competition in 2028, with the all-new competition car to appear in 2029. Details on specific models, technical specifications, or how the rally tech will be integrated into road cars were not disclosed in the announcement.