Ford to Withdraw from World Rally Championship After 2012 Season
Ford will end its official works participation in the WRC after this season, leaving M-Sport to consider its future role in the series without factory backing.
Ford has confirmed it will withdraw its factory support from the World Rally Championship at the close of the 2012 season, ending a 15-year run with M-Sport as its works partner. The decision means the current campaign will be the last for Ford as a manufacturer-backed team in the WRC.
The announcement was made on Monday, with Ford stating it will not continue as a title sponsor or provide official works backing from 2013. The move follows a period of uncertainty for several manufacturers in the championship, with Mini also confirming its exit at the end of this year.
M-Sport, led by Malcolm Wilson, has managed Ford's WRC programme since 1997, delivering two manufacturers' titles in 2006 and 2007. The team has fielded the Fiesta RS WRC in recent seasons, with Jari-Matti Latvala as its top driver for 2012. Latvala was running third in the drivers’ standings at the time of Ford’s announcement.
What happens next for M-Sport and Ford cars in WRC?
Ford’s withdrawal does not necessarily mean an immediate disappearance of Ford cars from the WRC. Talks are underway about the possibility of M-Sport continuing to enter Fiestas as customer cars, but without the financial and technical support that comes with official manufacturer status. This would place M-Sport in a similar position to other privateer operations, relying on customer funding and sponsorship rather than direct factory input.
The change will have immediate implications for drivers, engineers and suppliers who have depended on Ford’s funding and resources. It also reduces the number of factory teams in the WRC, potentially affecting the series’ competitiveness and appeal to sponsors. The withdrawal comes at a time when several manufacturers are reassessing their motorsport investments in response to economic pressures and shifting priorities.
Ford’s WRC record and recent context
Ford’s WRC tenure with M-Sport saw consistent participation and a strong record, including the 2006 and 2007 manufacturers’ championships. The Fiesta RS WRC has remained competitive, though Ford had not claimed a drivers’ title during this period. The 2012 season saw Ford’s lead driver, Latvala, finish third in the standings, underlining the team’s ability to challenge at the top level despite increasing competition from Citroën and others.
Ford’s decision follows Mini’s own withdrawal from the WRC at the end of 2012, leaving Citroën as the only major factory team for the following season. The series faces a period of transition as privateer teams and customer entries fill the gaps left by departing manufacturers.
For further context on Ford’s recent strategic decisions in Europe, see Ford shuts Genk plant after five decades, cutting 4,000 jobs.
