Ford to leave WRC after this season?!
Discussion
http://www.facebook.com/FordWRC
Or so it says on their facebook page?
If so I think WRC is just about dead!
Or so it says on their facebook page?
If so I think WRC is just about dead!
Blimey, they still had 1 year to go on their contract with M-Sport. To be honest, they've had a half hearted approach to the WRC the last 5 years, providing M-Sport with a meagre budget; meaning they've had to run customer programmes as well as the WRC effort. It's a far cry from when they signed McRae for mega bucks, as well as Sainz, and had Martini as title sponsor.
If you want to win, you have to spend. Simple....
However, first Mini, now Ford, so we're left with Citroen & VW......for 2013......
I thought the RedBull Promoter news would persuade them to stay......something doesn't add up.....
If you want to win, you have to spend. Simple....
However, first Mini, now Ford, so we're left with Citroen & VW......for 2013......
I thought the RedBull Promoter news would persuade them to stay......something doesn't add up.....
Well I thought I read somwhere that Ford had offered an extension to Latvala's contract for mega bucks.
Sounds like Ford are holding out for something like lower costs from M-Sport, more revenue from Red Bull / TV or something. Smells of negotiation in public to me. Fingers crossed as Ford pulling out would be a disaster for the sport just as things were looking up
Sounds like Ford are holding out for something like lower costs from M-Sport, more revenue from Red Bull / TV or something. Smells of negotiation in public to me. Fingers crossed as Ford pulling out would be a disaster for the sport just as things were looking up
SAGTAFF said:
Well I thought I read somwhere that Ford had offered an extension to Latvala's contract for mega bucks.
Sounds like Ford are holding out for something like lower costs from M-Sport, more revenue from Red Bull / TV or something. Smells of negotiation in public to me. Fingers crossed as Ford pulling out would be a disaster for the sport just as things were looking up
On another forum a trusted member said his pal in M-Sport told him on the blower it was definitely all off.Sounds like Ford are holding out for something like lower costs from M-Sport, more revenue from Red Bull / TV or something. Smells of negotiation in public to me. Fingers crossed as Ford pulling out would be a disaster for the sport just as things were looking up
EDLT said:
I really hope a Fiesta wins the championship next year, with Loeb gone it looks a very real possibility.
That is the bit that I don't get - with Loeb finally stepping back, next year is the first time in ages that the title will actually be open. After all of the investment put in, this is a bit of a Honda withdrawing from F1 situation isn't it? (Just for instance - please nobody take that to a thread diversion).EDLT said:
Why are you even posting?
He has a point though it has become very lame to the point coronation street is more enjoyable to watch I've tried to persevere watching it but its just not really exciting enough to keep my interest, I think it's had it's day personally , unless it changes its format I think it will be staying that way Full Ford Statement said:
Ford of Europe has today announced that it will withdraw from the FIA World Rally Championship as a title sponsor after the 2012 season.
"Ford has a long and proud history in the WRC and this was not an easy decision," said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. "We have great respect for M-Sport and Malcolm Wilson, who have run the Ford WRC team since 1997, and there is no organisation with more expertise and commitment to winning. Working together, we have reached a point where the Ford Fiesta has become the car of choice in rallying, and we want to see this continue in the future."
Ford WRC wishes to thank its fans, drivers, the FIA and its many WRC partners, including team main sponsors BP and Castrol, for their support and commitment.
"Ford has a long and proud history in the WRC and this was not an easy decision," said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. "We have great respect for M-Sport and Malcolm Wilson, who have run the Ford WRC team since 1997, and there is no organisation with more expertise and commitment to winning. Working together, we have reached a point where the Ford Fiesta has become the car of choice in rallying, and we want to see this continue in the future."
Ford WRC wishes to thank its fans, drivers, the FIA and its many WRC partners, including team main sponsors BP and Castrol, for their support and commitment.
Edited by Blib on Tuesday 16th October 09:05
Vocal Minority said:
Rallying without Ford...its like a movie with a bleak apocalyptic future.
It's odd. Ford have been the sports one constant since the year dot really. Hopefully just a negotiation tactic
For all their years of service – they actually won very little(1981 drivers with Vatanen, 2006/7 Manufacturers Titles). They’ve also provided M-Sport with a meagre budget to fight Citroen. A perfect example of not how to run a Motorsport programme. It's odd. Ford have been the sports one constant since the year dot really. Hopefully just a negotiation tactic
I suppose it could be argued that if the WRC had greater exposure, and bigger, richer sponsors – they could justify spending more.
In the end, the new RedBull Promoter deal has come too late – and JML signing for VW won’t have helped.
zeb said:
strange decision considering that next year could be the best chance of victory for a decade
Yes but m-sport have been saying that for years. I guess ford top brass don't believe it anymore.i almost wish that VW weren't entering next year, or at least were more like MINI. WRC without works teams could be really good as the costs would go down, so more competitors woudl be able to play.
Vocal Minority said:
Rallying without Ford...its like a movie with a bleak apocalyptic future.
It's odd. Ford have been the sports one constant since the year dot really. Hopefully just a negotiation tactic
Have they?It's odd. Ford have been the sports one constant since the year dot really. Hopefully just a negotiation tactic
They made such a half arsed attempt at for much of their time - the RS200 was too little, too late, the early Group A years saw them trying to make a RWD Sierra compete with the Delta and the Escort WRC was just a bad joke much of the time.
I don't really recall much of a serious and competitive Ford effort since about 1980.
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