Thursday 17 January 2019

Ford Performance are assessing a potential World RX return.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media
Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook has revealed that Ford are assessing a potential return to the FIA World Rallycross Championship when the series switches to electric power in 2021. 

Ford competed in the World Rallycross Championship for two seasons with Ken Block's Hoonigan Racing Division team. However, Ford announced its withdrawal from the championship in October 2017. 

Rushbrook spoke to Motorsport Magazine and has indicted that Ford Performance are interested in the full electrification of the World RX championship. 

“We continue to talk to IMG and the FIA and other OEMs to see who is committing to it, and we’ll come to a decision in March,” said Rushbrook.

“We withdrew in 2018 because that programme has served its purpose well for the Focus RS."

The Hoonigan Racing Division (with Ford Performance factory support) claimed three wins, two second place finishes and two third place finishes in the 2016 World RX championship. 
In 2017, the team were only able to secure two second place finishes and two third place finishes. 

“We do continue to study the possibilities for electrified motor sport, and rallycross is one of them.

“It makes sense as a good place to race full electric cars given what the event is: the performance, the duration and the passion or explosiveness of the cars.

“We think that could work really well on a full electric platform for motor sport. There’s a deadline coming up to commit to that.”

The FIA have informed World RX promoters [IMG] that they are required to sign at least three OEMs [Original Equipment Manufacturers] by March 2019, or the series will have to continue to use internal combustion engines. 

Source: Motorsport Magazine 
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/news/nascar/ford-boss-hybrid-nascar-horizon

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