Ford Rebrands Global Motorsport Division as 'Ford Racing'

Ford has announced it will revert its global motorsport division from 'Ford Performance' back to the iconic 'Ford Racing' brand. This move signals a renewed focus on integrating racing technology into its road-going vehicles.

Why it matters

This strategic rebrand is more than a name change; it's a promise to bridge the gap between race car development and the engineering of everyday vehicles. This integration aims to bring track-proven innovations directly to consumers, impacting high-profile global motorsport programs including the upcoming Formula 1 collaboration with Red Bull Racing, Supercars, NASCAR, and its Le Mans hypercar project.

The big picture

'Ford Performance' was established in 2015 by combining 'Ford Racing', Ford Team RS, and Special Vehicle Team. The return to the 'Ford Racing' banner unifies both motorsport efforts and high-performance road car development under a single, globally recognized brand. The initiative spans from the World Rally Championship (WRC) and Dakar Rally to premier circuit racing.

The details

• The 'Ford Racing' division will continue to be led by global director Mark Rushbrook and general manager Will Ford.
• Will Ford emphasized the change is "not a marketing exercise," but a commitment to develop performance road cars alongside race cars.
• Examples of this integration include: Baja 1000 technology influencing the F-150 Raptor, and aerodynamic lessons from Daytona and Le Mans shaping the next Mustang.
• The first production vehicle born from this new 'Ford Racing' mindset is slated to debut in January.
• While some changes will be gradual (e.g., Supercars will switch to 'Ford Racing' branding in 2026), the full brand rollout kicks off in January with the Dakar Rally, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and Ford's own Season Launch event.

What's next

Ford Racing is set to compete at the highest levels globally, including Formula 1, with a singular purpose: to win. Expect a strong push for victories and a clear link between racing success and future road car innovation.