Whether Ford commits to more WRC backing is dependent on the future promotion of the championship
Photography by M-Sport
Words by Luke Barry & David Evans
Hyundai is considering running a Rally2 car, while Toyota is developing an all-new car for 2027.
Where does M-Sport stand?
The hope for the World Rally Championship’s next set of technical regulations is to encourage more manufacturers to join rallying’s top table, with WRC27 and Rally2 cars competing on an even keel.
But for M-Sport – which represents Ford – the direction of the WRC’s promotion is key to its future decisions.
M-Sport team principal Richard Millener told DirtFish: “The technical regs, they [Ford] are kind of up to speed on and understand. It’s the wider vision of the sport that is the question. We know that the perception of the promotion of the championship is something that they have questions over.
“I think from what I read it’s clear that it looks like we’re heading for a change. And as soon as that is finalized and the vision of any new promoter is there, that’s going to be the final missing part of the puzzle that determines: yes or no.
“But I think that’s the same for Hyundai, and I’m sure that’s the same for other brands that are looking at this. It’s a lot easier for an OEM to then look at that and say, ‘right, let’s do an investment for three years and see where we go’. But at the minute, you don’t have that information, so it’s very difficult to say that.
“I think whatever we did, getting a new car for the start of 2027 is impossible,” Millener added.
Like Hyunda, running the Rally2 car in 2027 is also an option for M-Sport
“Everyone’s got their point of view, and at some point someone needs to make a decision. And if Cyril [Abiteboul]’s now come out and openly said that he’s considering that [a Rally2 car], then maybe that’s a decision that helps guide it for the rest of us. But I think things have changed so much in the last few rallies, who’s to say it doesn’t change again in the next couple?”
However Millener said that if Rally2 cars were to become the top category, it could only be for 2027.
“It can only be one year. We have to switch to the new regs. Have to,” he stressed. “Well, [that’s what] my opinion is, because that’s what we made these regs for, and if we keep pushing them back, then what was the point of it?”
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: M-Sport, Richard Millener, WRC, WRC 2027
Publish Date October 28, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/10/rcRfnAc9-WRC_CER_25_ATMOSPHERE_174-780x520.jpg October 28, 2025
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