Malcolm Wilson: “Important for our sport to evolve over time”

This Wednesday March 31, 2021 will be marked with a white stone in the history of WRC. It is today that the FIA ​​and the three manufacturers currently entered in the World Championship have set in stone their involvement in the future hybrid era which is due to begin in 2022.

If the presence of M-Sport as well as Toyota there were hardly any more doubts, the recent validation of the program by Hyundai has given the final impetus to the process and will allow the three teams to move more and more into the development of future Rally1s in the weeks to come.

Already well advanced in its work, with the revelation of several teasers in recent days, M-Sport Ford does not hide its satisfaction and its ambitions.

“It has always been important for our sport to evolve with the times, and this commitment to hybrid technology aligns the future of the rally on Ford's global commitment to a more sustainable future, specifies Malcolm Wilson, head of the British structure.

As the toughest championship for production cars, the WRC provides the ideal platform to test, develop and promote the latest road car technology. Which makes this development essential to the relevance and continuation of our sport.

It is also an integral part of continuing our successful partnership with Ford and safeguards M-Sport’s immediate future in the WRC. Over the last two decades we have delivered fantastic performances and developed some of the cars and fielded some of the most successful drivers.

Working closely with Ford Performance, we intend to continue this success in 2022 and progress on our future car continues with testing in the UK and America. There is still a long way to go, but we are determined to launch a successful new car as the world moves towards a more sustainable future. »

It remains to be seen what model will be used by M-Sport and Ford for this hybrid era. Bets remain open.