M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[M3 Jambo]

Not sure there are any big sponsors around since Abu Dhabi & Qatar departed the sport. I suspect the majority of both Hyundai / Toyota's budgets come from the manufacturers themselves.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Suninen has budget & future worries after Monte Carlo crash:

https://www.explica.co/suninen-my-ac...ther-question/

No wonder Millener was pretty angry at Suninen saying, "It really is a great kick in the teeth. The intention was to reach the finish line with both cars and we didn't even get there on one stage. And after everything we've done to be here . Just before we started racing we said this is a long rally (so that he would take it easy)"

[Crazy J]

But why hasn't M-Sport managed to secure a big sponsor over all these years?

This is one of the main questions related to WRC. It would be just too easy to say that also F1 has less sponsors now than 10 years ago because all sponsors have gone to formula e. Currently some of circuit racing formats have actually good amount of sponsors and competitors, e.g. prototypes and GTs. Also companies from certain geographical areas could be more keen to provide sponsorship than others. Or how about highlighting the car or race number ownership they have in nascar, could it work in WRC?

[Mirek]

I think you omit the main reason - results. The main factor in getting sponsorship deals is offering them success. Without top driver there isn't reasonable success which would attract the sponsors.

[M3 Jambo]

MSport did reasonably well in 2017 & 2018 but that didn't manifest in sponsorship to replace Red Bull.

[AnttiL]

MSport did reasonably well in 2017 & 2018 but that didn't manifest in sponsorship to replace Red Bull.

I think it was more of Ogier's personal sponsorship, it went with him from VW to M-Sport and to Citroen, and then dissolved with Toyota.

[Mirek]

MSport did reasonably well in 2017 & 2018 but that didn't manifest in sponsorship to replace Red Bull.

Yes but the deals don't come themselves. There is a lot of work behind that and a lot of connections and usually things don't just go easy and well. For sure M-Sport can't be in a position of the carmakers but IMHO they had something of a value in hand at that time for the negotiations - now there is little of that left.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

The sponsor issue is nothing new.

Most times M-Sport has had a 'big sponsor' on their car it has been connected to a driver (ie. Repsol, Abu Dhabi, Red Bull).

Even when it was just them vs Citroen (and M-Sport won two Manu titles) it was still only Castrol & BP.

But then they had full Ford backing...

[AndyRAC]

The sponsor issue is nothing new.

Most times M-Sport has had a 'big sponsor' on their car it has been connected to a driver (ie. Repsol, Abu Dhabi, Red Bull).

Even when it was just them vs Citroen (and M-Sport won two Manu titles) it was still only Castrol & BP.

But then they had full Ford backing...

Ford have had ample opportunity to fully back M-Sport - I'm sure some of the big bosses were at Monte in 2017, and seemed impressed. But not enough to provide full backing. Nascar and the IMSA/WEC programme took priority.
You have to go back to the days of the original Focus and sponsorship from Martini, and with proper backing from Ford who were willing to pay McRae, then Sainz mega money. Different times back then.

The sport can't pull in anything like that anymore - because it's simply not visible enough. You could also argue it's not too relevant anymore.

[RS]

The sport can't pull in anything like that anymore - because it's simply not visible enough.

All-Live is fantastic for the die-hard fans but is any of the live coverage available free-to-air? In the UK we only have the highlights programme on the Monday evening following the event. I realise the coverage costs a lot to produce but if they could at least get the powerstage in front of more eyeballs perhaps it might entice more to take the All-Live product.