“We will retain our exciting and dynamic young driver line-up of Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala, who have benefited from another year's experience and maturity, supported by one of the most enthusiastic and hard-working teams in motorsport at M-Sport - which we believe will again make us highly competitive in 2009,” read the statement from Ford.
Also, the American company admitted that staying in the series would help Ford promote its range of products worldwide.
“Involvement in the WRC benefits Ford in various ways. It provides a big impetus to our product reputation and sales, especially for the Focus. For Ford to demonstrate our products in a successful way, on a global basis via television and the internet, through involvement in the World Rally Championship represents good value. The WRC continues to represent the pinnacle of our motorsport ladder of opportunity.”
Earlier this week, both Suzuki and Subaru announced their immediate withdrawal from the sport due to financial difficulties. However, both companies will continue to be represented in the WRC through customer cars (Suzuki will compete only in the J-WRC). Also, Subaru has already announced a future return in the series is not out of the question, especially since the FIA released a new cost-cutting plan to be implemented in the WRC in 2010.
The plan is allegedly going to reduce costs within the series at almost a tenth of what it's now necessary to support a works' team, as the WRC will be based solely on Super 2000 cars. A bunch of manufacturers are expected to join the championship in 2010 as a result of the new set of rules, including Peugeot.
Only two manufacturers have confirmed their presence in the 2009 WRC season, Ford and reigning world champions Citroen.
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