Ford is heading back to the FIA World Rally Championship, announcing plans to return as a full factory-backed manufacturer starting in 2028.

The blue oval will once again partner with M-Sport, continuing a relationship that spans 30 years. Ford Racing will work with M-Sport ahead of its official 2028 campaign, with an all-new WRC car set to debut in 2029 and draw inspiration from one of Ford’s upcoming European passenger vehicles.

The rally program is part of Ford’s plan to develop five new “multi-energy” electric and hybrid passenger vehicles for Europe. The company says lessons learned from WRC will help create cars with sharper handling, greater responsiveness, and stronger off-road capability.

“Rallying is where Ford’s character faces its toughest test,” said Jim Baumbick, President of Ford Europe. “We want our next generation of European vehicles to carry that same unapologetic spirit.”

Ford has more than 50 years of WRC history, with rally versions of the Escort, Sierra, Focus, Fiesta, and Puma competing across asphalt, gravel, ice, and sand. The company has also claimed multiple manufacturers and drivers’ championships, with its rallying experience influencing road-going models ranging from the Escort Mexico to the Ranger Raptor.

Ford’s return comes as the WRC enters a new era, with new technical regulations arriving for 2027 and new commercial rights holders in place. The move also expands Ford’s factory motorsport presence, giving it programs across four FIA World Championships.

For Ford, however, the WRC comeback is about more than trophies. The company says rallying will serve as a development laboratory for its next generation of European vehicles, which are being engineered specifically for the continent’s “perfectly imperfect roads.”