WRC: Ford pondering greater involvement with M-Sport

Ford has not been directly involved as a World Rally Championship manufacturer since 2012, although its car have continued to be built and entered by Malcolm Wilson's M-Sport operation, which previously served as the company's works team. However, after M-Sport's new privateer Fiesta took victory on its debut with Sebastien Ogier in Monte Carlo, Ford Performance Dave Pericak acknowledged the Blue Oval could be on the verge of a higher-profile role in the series.

"We are here having a look at it," Pericak told WRC LIVE. "This is my first time to attend a WRC rally and it has been amazing.

"We have been involved in a number of different motorsports; in GRC in America and now in World Rallycross with Ken Block and our team there, but now I'm over here and we're going to make this part of our plan going forward.

"With an all-new car and the new rule package, what a great season this is going to be. Having Sebastien in the car is a dream come true, so this is a big deal for us – we're excited," he added.

Ogier's victory in Monte Carlo was the first for Ford since M-Sport's final season as Ford's works squad in 2012.