Things are not looking good for the World Rally Championship.
Just days after Mini announced the withdrawal of its works team from the WRC, Ford has announced that it is also pulling out of the series at the end of this year's season.
Ford Europe's vice-president Roelant de Waard made the announcement on Monday.
"It's better for the company and the Ford marque to pull out of the world championship," de Waard wrote on the American constructor's Facebook page in comments reported by German news agency SID.
BLAME THE RECESSION
He added that the decision, based on economic reasons with Ford sales in Europe down 19 percent on this year's first set of figures, had not been an easy one to take.
Ford will however continue to supply the M-Sport organisation, its partner in the championship, with cars and engines.
Ford's Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala is placed third in the standings behind already crowned champion Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3), who has announced his intention to only compete in a handful of rallies next term. -AFP