Does Ford have a racing team?
Yes—Ford does not own a single standalone racing team. Its racing activities are organized under Ford Performance, which fields and supports multiple factory-backed and customer teams across major series.
Through Ford Performance, Ford maintains factory-style programs and partnerships in NASCAR, endurance racing, and rallying, providing engineering, development, and manufacturing support while various teams race Ford-built cars. This article outlines how Ford participates in racing as of 2025.
Ford Performance and its NASCAR footprint
Ford's presence in stock-car racing centers on factory support and collaboration with partner teams in the NASCAR Cup Series. The primary Ford-backed teams in Cup are:
- Team Penske (NASCAR Cup Series)
- Stewart-Haas Racing (NASCAR Cup Series)
- RFK Racing (NASCAR Cup Series)
These partnerships underpin Ford's Cup Series efforts, providing engineering, powertrain, and aerodynamic development for Ford Mustang entries across the season. This structure emphasizes manufacturer alignment and performance continuity rather than a single, standalone Ford-run outfit.
Key notes on the NASCAR program
In addition to the core teams listed above, Ford Performance collaborates with a network of partner teams and suppliers to optimize engines, chassis, and aerodynamics for Ford's Cup Series entries. The arrangement aims to maximize consistency and competitiveness across the Ford lineup.
Endurance and rally programs
Ford's endurance racing presence is led by a combination of factory-backed efforts and customer partnerships, spanning IMSA and rallying. Notable areas include:
- Ford GT program in endurance racing, developed with Multimatic and fielded as a Ford-supported effort in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
- Mustang GT3/GT4 customer programs, with teams racing Ford-built GT3 and GT4 cars in IMSA and other series.
- World Rally Championship involvement through the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, which operates Ford-branded rally cars under a Ford-backed partnership rather than a standalone factory team.
These programs illustrate Ford’s multi-series racing strategy: a blend of factory-style support and customer racing programs to maximize development, exposure, and competition across global motorsports.
Rally and endurance history
Ford has a storied rally history, including years in the World Rally Championship with M-Sport. In endurance racing, Ford’s IMSA efforts most recently focused on the Ford GT platform, delivering podiums and wins during the GT era and continuing to evolve with Mustang-based programs and collaborations.
How Ford organizes its racing identity
Rather than operating one monolithic “Ford Racing” team, Ford’s competitive program is housed under Ford Performance, the company’s motorsports division. It coordinates with top-tier partner teams and customer racing programs to develop, test, and race Ford-built cars across multiple series. This manufacturer-led approach emphasizes collaboration and shared engineering across teams rather than a single in-house racing outfit.
Summary
Ford maintains a robust, multi-faceted racing presence through Ford Performance. It does not run a single standalone Ford Racing team; instead, it supports and partners with multiple outfits in NASCAR, endurance racing, and rallying. This structure allows Ford to compete at the highest levels across major series while advancing technology and brand visibility worldwide.
