Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance says that it is important that the new hybrid technology era that begins with this weekend’s 2022 season-opening Rally Monte Carlo reflects the motoring industry’s shift electrification.
Speaking as the M-Sport Ford WRC Team revealed their Puma Rally1 EccoBoost WRC car he said:
“One of the most captivating aspects of WRC down the years has been the clear link between the ultra-high performance rally cars and their road-going equivalents. “That’s why it’s so important that this new era of WRC reflects our industry’s shift to electrification. At Ford, we’re fully committed to an electrified future, and campaigning the M-Sport Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 car in the toughest conditions is going to help us develop even more exciting electrified powertrains for our customers.”
Powered using similar principles to the Puma EcoBoost Hybrid road car on which it is based, 1 the new M‑Sport Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 is Ford’s first electrified competition car. A next-generation hybrid powertrain captures energy during braking and coasting, and stores it in a 3.9 kWh battery. The energy is then used to supplement the championship-winning performance of the turbocharged 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine with repeated boosts of up to three seconds from a 100 kW electric motor.
M-Sport and Ford are celebrating 25 years together in the FIA World Rally Championship and speaking about their partnership, M-Sport Ford WRC Team Principal Richard Millener said:
It has been a very busy time getting the cars and team ready for next weekend’s Monte Carlo Rally and the opening of the 2022 World Rally Championship season, but one that will be worth the effort. “With the help and support of Ford colleagues all over the globe we have produced a fantastic car with huge potential and we cannot wait to showcase it during the year. A big thank you to everyone involved with getting to this stage and helping us meet such tight deadlines and we feel very proud to represent Ford on the world stage in our 25th year of partnership!
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