Ford Racing

The roots of Ford’s racing legacy date back to 1901, when Henry Ford's 'Sweepstakes' vehicle defeated Alexander Winton, providing the notoriety and funding necessary to establish the Ford Motor Company. Throughout the 20th century, Ford’s racing efforts were often fragmented across different regions and sub-brands, most notably the 'Total Performance' era of the 1960s which produced the Le Mans-winning GT40 and the legendary Cosworth DFV engine in Formula 1. In the 1990s, Ford refined its performance identity through two primary channels: the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in North America, which produced icons like the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Cobra, and Team RS in Europe, responsible for rally-bred legends like the Escort and Focus RS. The 'Ford Racing' brand served as the umbrella for factory-supported competition in NASCAR, NHRA, and off-road racing during this period. In December 2014, Ford Motor Company announced the consolidation of Ford Racing, Ford SVT, and Team RS into a single global entity: Ford Performance. This move was designed to streamline engineering resources and accelerate the delivery of performance vehicles and parts globally, leading to a new era of high-tech performance products. Since the consolidation, the division has overseen the production of the second-generation Ford GT, the expansion of the 'Raptor' brand across multiple truck platforms, and the development of the Mustang Dark Horse. Today, Ford Performance serves as a technical laboratory for the parent company, testing advanced aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and electric powertrain technology in extreme racing environments.