Ford Performance has rebranded once again as Ford Racing, launching a new legacy from Detroit to conquer grueling routes in Thailand and across the globe.
On 19 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Ford Motor Company unveiled the global racing season with roaring engine sounds signaling the start. This marked a historic new chapter in motorsports with the rebranding from Ford Performance to the more precise, aggressive, and dedicated Ford Racing.
A key highlight captivating all eyes was the launch of the Mustang Dark Horse SC, the first model clearly embodying the Ford Racing philosophy. This car integrates racing track technology into a customer-ready vehicle by combining aerodynamic features from the track with a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, bringing high performance from the pit lane to everyday roads.
Will Ford, a senior executive and fourth-generation heir, reflected on the origins in 1901 when Henry Ford won with a car he called the Sweepstakes. That victory was more than a trophy; it was the foundation of Ford. Today, reverting to the Ford Racing name is a promise to break down barriers between racing engineering and everyday cars, delivering the DNA of victory directly to customers' homes.
While spotlights shone in Detroit, on the other side of the world, intense heat and desert dust tested reputations on one of the toughest tracks, the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
Ford Racing entered eight Ford Raptor T1+ race vehicles. After two grueling weeks, rally driver Mattias Ekström of Ford Racing clinched victory in the final stage.
Ford secured two overall podium finishes at Dakar: second place driven by Nani Roma with co-driver Alex Haro, and third place by Mattias Ekström and Swedish co-driver Emil Bergkvist. This emphatically demonstrated the capability of the Ford Raptor T1+ and signaled that Ford Racing is here not just to compete but to push every limit on every track.
Ford reaffirmed its commitment during its busiest year with plans to compete in 34 global racing events, aligning with the rebranding vision to use racing as a real-world lab to create tangible innovations for customers worldwide.
Following last year's announcement of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains engine partnership for Formula 1, this season launch intensified excitement by revealing new liveries for the 2026 race cars of two teams.
These teams are Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. The event also detailed the Ford co-developed engines, marking Ford's proud full-scale return to Formula 1 after over 22 years, proving that Ford's speed is not just power but innovation ready to challenge every limit.
For Ford fans in Thailand, this global grandeur is close to home. The DNA of Ford Racing has been strongly carried into the Thai motorsport scene through Ford Thailand's racing activities.
On-road, Ford Thailand launched the Ford Thailand Racing (FTR) team, entering the Ford Ranger pickup in the Thailand Super Series since 2020, energizing the Thai motorsport community and instilling pride among Ford customers.
Off-road, Ford supports the Feellic Innovation Motorsport team, fielding the Ford Ranger Raptor in the brutal Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) to prove performance on diverse challenging routes across Asia since 2023.
All of this builds confidence that every drop of sweat on tracks like Le Mans, Dakar, or even in Thailand is a real testing ground gathering data to develop the best vehicles for customers. Ford doesn’t just join races; it competes to win. This commitment is Ford’s promise to its fans and customers that every Ford vehicle you drive is born from the unyielding fighting spirit of Ford Racing, ready to take you proudly to every destination.
