 Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ championships. The move to further its support of M-Sport will ensure that the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team will retain the services of […] "'Pin It")
Ford, M-Sport Extend 20-Year Partnership in Preparation for 2018 FIA WRC Season
Ford has announced that it is extending its technical and financial support of M-Sport, the motorsport partner with whom the automaker won the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ championships. The move to further its support of M-Sport will ensure that the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team will retain the services of 2017 FIA WRC Drivers’ champion Sébastien Ogier, who will lead a team consisting of Elfyn Evans and co-drivers Julien Ingrassia and Daniel Barritt.
Additional technical support for the 2018 FIA WRC season will be offered by Ford Performance Global Director of Motorsport Mark Rushbrook, who replaced Dave Pericak in late 2017.
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“Ford’s 20-year relationship with M-Sport has delivered unparalleled success at all levels of rallying, something we’re very proud of, and has also established Fiesta as the standard for rally competitors around the globe,” Rushbrook said. “Last year, we supported M-Sport with the development of the all-new Fiesta that went on to campaign to an FIA championship win. For 2018, we’re excited to be able to provide even greater support.”
“We’ve enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Ford over the years, and it’s great to see that support increase as we look to defend our FIA World Rally Championship titles in 2018,” added Malcolm Wilson OBE, M-Sport managing director.
“In Sébastien and Elfyn we have another strong line up and the added technical support will allow us to progress the development of the Ford Fiesta WRC. The competition will be closer than ever, but I’m confident that, together with the support of our partners, we can produce the same high levels of performance and reliability that delivered so much success in 2017.”
Ford’s partnership with M-Sport extends back to 1997 and involves the production of rally competition vehicles for everything from FIA R2 to WRC. Nearly 400 M-Sport-developed Ford Fiestas are in competition around the globe today.
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