M-Sport Fiesta rally car to extend model's lifetime
Following the announcement that the Ford Fiesta model will end its production run in 2023, M-Sport has underlined that it will continue with the production of Fiesta-based rally cars.
At present, the Fiesta represents 80% of M-Sport’s current rally car line-up and is the only model within the company’s portfolio which is offered at each level of the FIA’s Rally Pyramid.
Having worked in close collaboration with Ford, M-Sport was aware that production of the Fiesta was coming to a close, enabling the company to prepare by increasing its available stock of Fiesta body shells. This will ensure that M-Sport can continue producing Fiesta models in rally trim in both the UK and Poland. M-Sport will continue to develop the Fiesta model, with several updates planned for the entire portfolio over the next year.
M-Sport-developed Fiestas have won an array of motorsport accolades, including the Fiesta WRC which led M-Sport to five world championships in 2017 and 2018. M-Sport’s first Fiesta was developed in 2005 and consisted of the Ford Fiesta ST Group N car which was viewed as an affordable homologated rally car. To date, M-Sport Fiestas have achieved more than 2,000 overall victories.
“The Fiesta is a core part of M-Sport’s business activities and has been behind a lot of the company’s success in the past two decades,” said Malcolm Wilson OBE, managing director, M-Sport. “Thanks to our long and storied partnership with Ford, we were able to begin preparing for the end of the Fiesta’s production well ahead of time. I would like to assure all of our customers that we will still be building Fiesta rally cars for years to come, both in the UK and Poland.
“The Fiesta was the very first customer-focused car M-Sport developed and I think 2,000 overall victories speaks for itself. Development is underway across the board with our Fiesta-based cars as well, with the Fiesta Rally2, Rally3 and Rally4 currently enjoying thorough development programs. I’d like to personally thank Ford for their support over the years with the Fiesta. Ford and the Fiesta allowed M-Sport to grow as a business with its customer programs which Ford trusted us with and continues to do so.”
“The Fiesta has seen incredible success in rallying which is largely thanks to the time and effort M-Sport has put into its comprehensive ‘Ladder of Opportunity’ for over a decade now,” added Mark Rushbrook, director of Ford Performance. “Ford Performance has proudly supported M-Sport with all of its Fiesta-based programs from the very beginning and we have enjoyed incredible success together. We want this success to continue, and Ford Performance will continue supporting M-Sport with its various development programs for Fiesta-based rally cars.”
