Autoblog

Ford exiting WRC after 2012 season as Euro economy struggles

George Kennedy — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:13:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Hatchback, Ford, Racing

It appears that the World Rally Championship has lost another key player. After word that Mini is leaving WRC comes news that Ford is pulling out as well. While Mini's departure was rooted in its tenuous relationship with Prodrive, Ford's exit from the sport is tied to the poor economic climate in Europe.

According to a statement from Ford of Europe's VP of Marketing, Sales and Service, Roeland de Waard, "Ford has a long and proud history in the WRC and this was not an easy decision." He continued, "At this time, however, we determined that it was better for the company and the Ford brand to reduce our commitment to the WRC and deploy our resources in other areas."

While Ford's factory backing might be out, the rally masters at M-Sport were running the Ford team up until this news and plan to stay on with the Fiesta WRC in the years to come. The racing outfit, run by Malcolm Wilson, has achieved 52 wins and 208 podium finishes in the 16 seasons that it has been racing with Ford. The M-Sport boss voiced his gratitude toward the relationship with the automaker saying, "I would like to thank Ford of Europe for their enthusiastic support and the faith shown in the team over the past 16 seasons. We understand that tough decisions have had to be made to safeguard Ford jobs."

M-Sport has run Ford's factory team since 1997, and is talking with Ford to receive support in the form of vehicles and engineering. The extent of that support remains to be seen, and it is unknown if Ford will return to WRC if economic conditions in Europe improve.

Ford exiting WRC after 2012 season as Euro economy struggles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kubica back behind the wheel after horrendous crash

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

It has been the trend for drivers departing F1 to enter some other road-racing series, with endurance racing, DTM, IndyCar and NASCAR the popular destinations. Kimi Räikkönen went the other direction, leaving Ferrari for a stint with the development class of the Citroën rally team, and former F1 driver Robert Kubica might be doing something similar. Kubica, remember, suffered career-halting injuries in a crash during the Ronde di Andora rally in early 2011 and hasn't been back in an F1 cockpit since.

While ex-rally punter Räikkönen has taken Kubica's place as the top driver at Lotus/Renault F1 team, reports are that Kubica has been testing rally cars, including spending a day with the Ford World Rally Championship team and its drivers at a private test in France. Autosport reports that Kubica rented a Fiesta RS WRC car on his own before the outing with Ford, and a source told the magazine that Kubica "drove the car well."

The Ford WRC team won't even admit that Kubica was there (we had to use of Ken Block competing in France last year), so we wouldn't classify his return as imminent. But it's a good sign, and we'd just like to see him in a cockpit again, in some series, soon.

Kubica back behind the wheel after horrendous crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities, Racing

Ken Block, the Ford Fiesta RS WRC and the Monster Girls - Click above to watch the video after the break

Gentlemen, start your engines. The Monster World Rally Team has announced its full schedule for the 2011 season, and there's plenty of impending action to drool over.

Speaking of drooling, there's a video of the the all-new Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC that Ken Block will be using to contest the World Rally Championship along with Summer X Games, Gymkhana GRID, and select RallyCar rallies and RallyCross events in the United States. Oh yeah, and there's more than just automotive eye candy in the video you'll find after the break, if you know what we mean... nudge nudge, wink wink.

Says Block, "We even have a few top-secret projects in the works. I'm a lucky bastard to be doing all this, it's going to be an amazing year!" Lucky indeed.

For those interested in more, this is said to be the first video in a three-part series. Part two is scheduled to be released on February 9th, so stay tuned for that. Click past the break to watch this first video and to see the full slate of appearances for 2011.

Gallery: 2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC

[Source: Monster World Rally Team]

Continue reading Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls

Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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