Richard Millener Backs 2027 WRC Kit to Open M-Sport Ford Options

Richard Millener believes the 2027 WRC Kit regulations can create fresh opportunities for M-Sport Ford as it shapes its programme for next season.

Speaking at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, the M-Sport Ford team principal said the team’s plans for next year have not yet been finalised. However, he stressed that the objective remains to be present in the championship with at least two cars, the minimum requirement to compete properly.

“We want to be here. Two cars is the minimum requirement to compete in the championship, so that’s our goal,” Millener said.

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Millener sees running a Rally2 car with the WRC Kit as a more flexible route for the team. He believes the format opens access to more drivers and gives M-Sport the option to bring in promising young talent or continue with some of its existing drivers.

“I think running a Rally2 car with the WRC Kit actually opens up more opportunities for us. There are more drivers available and more possibilities,” he said. “At the same time, it allows us to show that the Ford Fiesta Rally2 is still a competitive car.”

Beyond the driver line-up, Millener believes the WRC Kit could help strengthen the Fiesta’s profile in rallying. He noted that the car is 95 percent the same as the Rally2 version, meaning exposure in the top category could generate positive attention and potentially help sell more cars.

Millener pointed to Josh McErlean’s performance on the Donegal Rally as evidence that the Fiesta remains competitive. McErlean was quicker than Kris Meeke on some stages and stayed close throughout the weekend, despite never having competed in Donegal before and not having driven a Rally2 car for 18 months.

However, Millener admitted the Fiesta still has to keep proving its competitiveness. He believes that if the Fiesta can fight at the front next year as part of the top WRC category, it would be highly valuable for M-Sport Ford, although the homologation timeline and aerodynamic work for the WRC Kit remain tight.