Published at 14:38, Monday, 26 November 2012

Cumbrian firm M-Sport has linked up with Qatar for next year's World Rally Championship.

Malcolm Wilson

The Dovenby-based company will run three Qatari liveried Ford Fiesta RS WRCs under the Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team banner in the 2013 competition.

The partnership comes five weeks after Ford announced it was pulling its rally sponsorship following a review of its European business.

Ford’s decision to stop world rallying at the end of last season raised fears of job cuts but M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson said he hoped new backers could be found to safeguard the future of his 230-strong workforce.

He said today: "We are delighted to welcome such a prestigious partner as Qatar on board for 2013.

"The partnership with Nasser [Al-Attiyah] and the Qatari State will enable M-Sport to continue at the pinnacle of the sport and we are looking forward to working together in the future.

"Since the 2012 season came to a close, work has not stopped and the entire team is working around the clock to ensure we deliver a strong package for next year."

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Giovanni Bernacchini will contest a seven-round programme scheduled around their other motorsport commitments. They will launch their campaign at Rally Sweden in February.

Al Attiyah said they were looking forward to building on a strong relationship with M-Sport.

"I have a good knowledge of the car having driven the [Ford] Fiesta S2000 to its debut win in 2010 and now looking to secure my eighth title in the Middle East with the [Ford] Fiesta RRC.

"I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the [Ford] Fiesta RS WRC and contesting as many WRC events as I can around my other motorsport commitments,” he added.

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