Ford name back as part of M-Sport WRC support

It was announced on Friday by the FIA that four manufacturers will fight for the 2018 title with defending drivers' and teams' champion M-Sport rebranded the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team.

Talk of an increased involvement from Ford has been rife since five-time champion Sebastien Ogier made it one of his prerequisites for remaining with the world championship-winning British team into 2018.

Agreement has now been reached between M-Sport and Ford for 2018.

M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson told Autosport: "It's great to see the Ford name back alongside M-Sport in the World Rally Championship.

"We welcome the increased level of technical support from Ford Performance. Defending the two world titles is going to be a big job for us next year, so we're very grateful for the support from Ford."

While Ford has a long history in rallying, the US giant has not always competed officially. Previously, it stepped away from 1980 until the arrival of the RS200 in 1986, and then again in 1995.

Wilson's M-Sport team ran Ford's official involvement in the WRC from 1997 until 2012. Following a review of its marketing activities, Ford withdrew from the WRC in 2012, and since then M-Sport has been privately funded.