Fast-Eddie
Senior member
Lets say limited support (from Ford), still struggling to get sponsorship since Red Bull (who mainly funded the driver); and they dont make any money from Rally1 (2 car sales for parts & servicing).
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M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams
- Thread starter Sulland
- Start date
Fast-Eddie
Senior member
How do they make money ? Running Rally1/ WRC1 is now basically a company advert, paid for by MW, keeping them there.
Advert for what exactly? The newest car they sell is the Rally3?
Fast-Eddie
Senior member
They sell the whole range of cars from Rally5 upwards, plus the parts and servicing.
Rally1 / WRC1 keeps the name of M-Sport right up there in the world of rallying, even if it doesnt make them any money. The deal with the MI Rally Academy plus sponsors probably just breaks even.
First post on the new forums! Carry on..
Looking at the lack of Fords in the WRC entry lists, I'd say the "advertising" isn't working. And hasn't been for a long time. And for parts and servicing you don't need to be in the top category.
Fast-Eddie
Senior member
Well they've kept going all these years so something must be bringing in the money.
And the WRC 'advertising' is for all their products.
Lack of Rally2 sales has many financial causes, going back as far as Covid times.
By providing professional rally services to their customer/s who need entries in rallies and rally championships.
The commercial deal with the FIA says that the championship promoter has to financially guarantee the participation of 3 manufacturers. There's only 3 manufacturers. Not saying they cover 100% of costs, because Ford and sponsors will go some of the way. Just making up the shortfall and profit margin. Neither M-Sport or MW is a charity and there's no free-market sporting sport going on here.
Rallyworld
M-SPORT ACQUIRES CUSTOM CAGES LIMITED TO COMPLETE ROLL CAGE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR WRC2 2027 CAR! M-Sport is pleased to announce the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Custom Cages Limited, the...
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Fast-Eddie
Senior member
We were talking about making money from their participation in WRC1 / Rally1.
flat_right
Active member
You have to take M-Sport as a whole business.
Fast-Eddie
Senior member
That's wasnt the discussion. It was if they make money from WRC participation. I see it as being more of a loss leader.
A lot of companies operate like this in motosport, that their participation is viewed as advertising for the 'real' business.
Fast-Eddie
Senior member
Acropolis Rally Greece: Armstrong Takes Maiden WRC Stage Win - Jon Armstrong Rally
Armstrong takes his maiden WRC stage win at Acropolis Rally Greece before a turbo issue and punctures force a Friday retirement from a podium position.
jonarmstrongrally.com
“It was great to get my first WRC stage win. That’s a nice achievement to tick off the list, so I’m really pleased with that,” said Armstrong.
“As for our stage win, I had actually driven parts of the stage back in 2022 in Junior WRC, so I had a little bit of familiarity with it, which definitely helped.
“We’d already built up a good rhythm before that stage because our times had been improving, so confidence was growing. The main thing was just staying calm and enjoying the driving.
“We’re making small steps all the time in understanding the car, the championship and the level of competition. It was nice to see everything come together and finally get that first stage win."