M-Sport to continue producing Fiesta rally cars despite model axing

The British staff at the moment produces Rally2, Rally3 and Rally4 specification Fiesta rally vehicles, which has turn out to be a core a part of the World Rally Championship squad’s enterprise.

Up till the transfer to Rally1 guidelines this yr that prompted a change to the Ford Puma physique form, the squad’s prime degree WRC vehicles from 2011 have employed the Fiesta physique.

Final month Ford introduced that it’s going to withdraw the Fiesta from manufacturing subsequent yr, but it surely has now been confirmed the transfer gained’t halt the manufacturing of Fiesta rally vehicles at M-Sport.

“The Fiesta is a core a part of M-Sport’s enterprise actions and has been behind a whole lot of the corporate’s success up to now 20 years,” stated M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson.

“Due to our lengthy and storied partnership with Ford, we had been in a position to start making ready for the tip of the Fiesta’s manufacturing effectively forward of time. I want to guarantee all of our prospects that we are going to nonetheless be constructing Fiesta rally vehicles for years to come back, each within the UK and Poland.

“The Fiesta was the very first buyer centered automobile M-Sport developed, and I believe 2,000 general victories speaks for itself.

Luke Anear, Andrew Sarandis, Ford Fiesta MkII Rally2

Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool

“Improvement is underway throughout the board with our Fiesta based mostly vehicles as effectively, with the Fiesta Rally2, Rally3 and Rally4 at the moment having fun with thorough growth programmes.

“I’d wish to personally thank Ford for his or her help over time with the Fiesta. Ford and the Fiesta allowed M-Sport to develop as a enterprise with its buyer programmes which Ford trusted us with and continues to take action.”

Mark Rushbrook, Director of Ford Efficiency added: “The Fiesta has seen unimaginable success in rallying which is essentially due to the effort and time M-Sport has put into its complete ‘Ladder of Alternative’ for over a decade now.

“Ford Efficiency has proudly supported M-Sport with all of its Fiesta based mostly programmes from the very starting and we now have loved unimaginable success collectively.

“We would like this success to proceed, and Ford Efficiency will proceed supporting M-Sport with its numerous growth programmes for Fiesta based mostly rally vehicles.”