Malcolm’s Masterpiece Meets Loeb’s Legacy: A Hybrid Revolution on Rally’s Grandest Stage
the Ford Puma Rally1—a machine that sits at the intersection of innovation, nostalgia, and sheer rallying grit. It’s as if Ford took their compact crossover, injected it with the DNA of a wildcat, and handed it over to M-Sport, Britain’s rallying masterminds, for a dose of motorsport magic. The result? A hybrid rally car that’s rewriting the rules of the World Rally Championship (WRC) stage.
First glimpsed by the public at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Puma Rally1 is the culmination of engineering artistry and competitive ambition. Beneath its wide arches, there’s a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine that hums like a caffeinated hummingbird, paired with a 100 kW electric motor. Sure, the 3.9 kWh battery can only muster three seconds of electric boost, but in rallying, three seconds can mean the difference between champagne showers and a polite golf clap.
This rally weapon owes much of its existence to Malcolm Wilson, the godfather of M-Sport, who has steered Ford's rally program to legendary status since 1997. Wilson’s squad has claimed seven FIA World Rally Championships and etched over 1,500 stage wins into the history books. Rumor has it, Malcolm is so intertwined with Ford's rally program that he can recite its gearbox ratios from memory over breakfast.
The Puma Rally1’s Monte Carlo Rally debut in 2022 was nothing short of electrifying—quite literally. Behind the wheel was Sébastien Loeb, the man whose name is synonymous with rallying greatness. At 47 years old, Loeb came out of semi-retirement, proved that age is merely a number, and clinched victory in his first outing with the hybrid beast. His deft command of the Puma Rally1 wasn’t just a masterclass in driving; it was a statement: the hybrid era of rallying has teeth.
Design-wise, the Puma Rally1’s aero kit is a visual nod to both performance and theatricality. Every curve and vent seems to say, “I may be part electric, but I’m here to shred gravel.” Whether you’re a die-hard rally fan or a weekend enthusiast, the Puma's transformation from a mild-mannered crossover to a rally-winning hybrid will make you believe in the impossible.
“ Victory goes to the one who simply refuses to stop fighting. ”
– Tommy Makinen, Finnish rally legend and four-time World Rally Champion.
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Ford Puma Rally 2021