- Ford is bringing its racing and hot road cars under one division, renaming Ford Performance as Ford Racing.
- The goal is to streamline the flow of innovation from racing into road cars.
- Former F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has been named as 'Global Ford Racing Ambassador'.
Ford Motor Co. has announced a "significant strategic transformation", rebranding its Ford Performance division to Ford Racing, a move it says is designed to further integrate its track-developed innovations with its production vehicles. Alongside this announcement the company also revealed that former Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo will join the new organisation as a "Global Ford Racing Ambassador".
Ford says the newly formed division is more than just a name change, but rather represents a "wholesale reintroduction" of Ford's racing brand and a "completely new way of thinking about the business, brand, and products" derived from its motorsports efforts.
It will merge Ford's performance road and racing programs into a single unit, encompassing racing programs, road cars, customer experiences, merchandising, and brand activities globally. Will Ford, General Manager of Ford Racing Global, emphasised that this is being built as a "major business within Ford Motor Co."
The company says the "core mission" of Ford Racing is to create a direct pipeline from track to street, ensuring that technology and learnings from motorsports are transferred to Ford's regular vehicle lineup.
"Our new Ford Racing organisation will bring our road and race operations closer than ever before, said Will Ford.
"Under one global leader, our super-talented engineers, designers and aerodynamicists will find innovative solutions for the track and bring them to our road products – and vice versa. All this is being done to bring the best products, technologies, and experiences to our customers."
This means engineering breakthroughs from vehicles like the Dakar-winning Ford Raptor T1+ will flow directly into production Raptors, and aerodynamic lessons from Le Mans will influence the next Mustang.
This strategic shift is rooted deeply in Ford's heritage, with Will Ford saying that the idea traces back to Henry Ford's first, and only, foray into motorsport.
"In 1901, my great-great-grandfather, Henry Ford, drove a car he built called "Sweepstakes" in a race against the most famous driver in America. He wasn't a racer. But he had to win. If he lost that day, Ford Motor Company might not exist," said Ford.
"He won, and that DNA—that need to prove ourselves, to innovate under pressure, and to win—is why we are here today. It’s why we are going back to our roots."
The merged operation will be headquartered at the Roush Building in Dearborn, Michigan, and will report to Ford Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra, ensuring close integration with Ford’s industrial system.
Ford Racing plans to continue competing at the highest levels of motorsports, including Formula One, Dakar, Le Mans, Bathurst, Daytona, and the World Rally Championship, with the explicit goal "to win them all".
At the same time it announced the formation of Ford Racing, Ford also revealed that popular Australian former Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo would be joining it in a new role as an ambassador for Ford Racing. Ricciardo confirmed the partnership in a blog post for the Ford Racing website, stating, "While my racing days are behind me, my love for anything with wheels will always remain high and for that I am proud to be partnering with Ford to become a Global Ford Racing Ambassador".
Ricciardo, who retired from F1 after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, will work closely with the Ford Racing team, with a specific focus on the "amazing Raptor brand and lifestyle".
"I purchased a Raptor back in 2017 before I even owned a home in the US. Priorities, am I right?," said Ricciardo in the post.
Ricciardo went on to say that shortly after Ford announced it was partnering with Oracle Red Bull Racing he went to Dearborn where he met senior leaders like Jim Farley, and had a "peak behind the curtain" to see what was happening within Ford's design department.
"I couldn’t be more excited for all the amazing drives ahead with Ford and for all the incredible projects Ford Racing has in its pipeline," he said.
"Taking my bias for 'American-made' and deep love for trucks out of the equation, Raptor is becoming a global powerhouse. I’m one of thousands of happy customers".
