Twenty nationalities and 39 entries for Ford in Finland

The Blue Oval’s ever growing ‘Ford family’ reaches new heights this weekend with no fewer than 39 drivers all taking to the wheel of a Fiesta at the 2012 Neste Oil Rally Finland.

More than 20 nationalities will contest the fastest event on the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar, with each of the Fiestas from Ford’s ‘Ladder of Opportunity’ – the Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Fiesta RRC, Fiesta S2000, Fiesta R2 and Fiesta ST – all present on the entry list.

The feat showcases Ford and M-Sport’s commitment to fostering the growth of national and international rallying from the grass routes to the top echelons of the WRC.

Fourteen Finns, three Norwegians, two Americans, two Estonians, two Spaniards, two Swedes, a Russian, Czech, Saudi Arabian, Italian, Irishman, Pole, Ukrainian, Northern Irishman, Australian, Dutchman, Scot, Welshman, South African and a Portuguese driver will all tackle Rally Finland’s legendary stages at the wheel of 10 Ford Fiesta RS WRCs, two Fiesta RRCs, seven Fiesta S2000s, 19 Fiesta R2s and one Fiesta ST.

Malcolm Wilson OBE said:

“It is great to see so many Ford’s on the entry list for Rally Finland. It is especially good to see the range of cars and nationalities which only goes to show the Fiesta’s popularity.

“Lewis Booth [head of Ford of Europe at the time] challenged us to increase the depth of entries in the WRC [World Rally Championship] back in 2006, and this weekend has seen us take a good step towards reaching that goal.”