M-Sport officially unveiled the striking 2026 WRC Ford Puma Rally1, showcasing a bold new livery that signals a fresh chapter for the British squad in the World Rally Championship.
The reveal comes at a pivotal moment as the team prepares for the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo, set to kick off next week amid heightened anticipation in the motorsport world.
The updated Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 not only sports a visually captivating design but also incorporates targeted technical refinements aimed at optimizing performance under the ongoing Rally1 regulations, which have been extended through 2026.
As M-Sport continues its legacy of innovation and close collaboration with Ford Performance, this unveiling underscores the team’s commitment to challenging factory-backed rivals like Toyota and Hyundai on the global stage.
The new livery represents a significant departure from the purple-dominated scheme of 2025, which prominently featured Red Bull branding, now absent from the M-Sport machines.
Instead, the 2026 Ford Puma Rally1 boasts a predominantly white base accented with vibrant green, blue, and subtle yellow highlights, evoking memories of the iconic Ford Focus WRC liveries from the 2004-2005 era that propelled the team to multiple championship triumphs.
This design choice is deeply intertwined with the team’s expanded partnership with Motorsport Ireland and its Rally Academy, reflected in the prominent placement of Irish branding along the sides and hood.
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Sponsors such as MS-RT (M-Sport Road Technology), Safety Culture, and Castrol also gain enhanced visibility, with MS-RT logos enlarged and Safety Culture positioned on the hood and rear wing, bridging the gap between rally innovation and road car aesthetics.
The green and blue forward accents mirror the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy colors, paying homage to the lineage of drivers nurtured by the program and emphasizing M-Sport’s investment in emerging Irish talent.
At the heart of this reveal is the all-Irish driver lineup for the full 2026 WRC campaign: Joshua McErlean and Jon Armstrong, a pairing that injects youthful energy and proven gravel expertise into the squad.
McErlean, the 26-year-old from the Republic of Ireland, returns for his second full Rally1 season after a promising rookie year in 2025, where he demonstrated pace and consistency across diverse surfaces, stepping up seamlessly from WRC2.
His teammate, 31-year-old Northern Irishman Armstrong, marks a significant promotion following his runner-up finish in the 2025 European Rally Championship, highlighted by commanding victories in Wales and Croatia that showcased his adaptability and stage-winning prowess.
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