M-Sport founder Malcolm Wilson admits his organization must deliver a car that can win immediately when the first all-new design under its revived partnership with Ford arrives in 2029.
The US automotive giant’s full-scale return to the World Rally Championship was announced earlier this month. The Blue Oval agreed a deal with long-term partner M-Sport that will bring Ford Racing back as a full WRC manufacturer for the first time since 2012.
It will start by entering M-Sport’s uprated Rally2 Kit car in the 2028 season, before introducing its first car built to 2027 Rally1 regulations a year later.
Speaking exclusively for a Club DirtFish video, Wilson explained the impact Ford’s additional future support would provide.
“We know what we’ve got to do and, in fairness, there’s no excuses anymore. I am very confident that, because of what we’ve been doing, and we’ve stayed in the sport at the highest level, then I know that we’ve got the people within M-Sport [to deliver],” Wilson vowed.
“And, of course, the great backup that we get from Ford now, technical-wise from the US, as we’ve seen with the Raptor, and we first saw the real benefit of that with the Puma in 2022. So, yeah, no excuses from 2029 onwards.”
M-Sport has an enviable track record of delivering WRC machinery that can win straight out of the box. Wilson is keen for that to continue with the 2029 car, which will be based on one of Ford’s new-generation of models to be rolled out in 2028 and 2029.
“You just need to look at our results – the last five rally cars that we’ve designed and developed, we’ve won on our debut,” said Wilson.
“Sadly for me, we still haven’t won Dakar yet and we didn’t win our debut, which is a massive… I wouldn’t say disappointment, but it’s something that broke our track record. So we’ve got a very clear target and that is, with this new car that we will design and develop, then we will be pushing to win on our debut again.
“The great thing I know is that we’ve still got the skill set and the commitment from the people to be able to do that.”
Ford’s support gives M-Sport the resources it needs to return to the winner’s circle. It also means there is nowhere to hide should the project not achieve the successes it is targeting.
“We’ve got a very clear strategy. I’m not under any illusions, we have to win in 2029,” Wilson reiterated.
“We’ve got two years now to design and develop a car. Obviously, we want to get the car out as soon as possible. But I think the important thing is you’ve also got to remember with these new regulations, really these technical regulations are here for the next 10 years.
“So, as much as I would love – and probably Ford would love – to get the car out sooner, we have to make sure that when we bring the car out we know that it’s going to continue to be successful and be a winning car.”
You can watch the full video now on Club DirtFish, where you’ll also have access to exclusive content including Driver Rankings, bonus podcasts and opinionated features from DirtFish’s team of writers.
