Ford's competition director Mark Deans announced in Swansea before the start of the Wales Rally GB that the BP Abu Dhabi world championship team will continue into 2009, after months of indecision on account of concern about the leadership of the sport. No major changes to the car are expected. "We will continue to use the cars they are. We aware there are only small improvement that can be made. The Ford Focus RS World Rally Car is at a point in development where there is not much more can do". Already in 2008 there were only minor alterations, some changes to the engine and differentials, but nothing more. "Even though the championship is being reduced by three events in 2009, the team is not proposing to enter extra events. Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala are confirmed as our drivers for 2009, with Khalid Al Qassimi making occasions entries like this year. M-sport however has the opportunity to do other events with the equipment if they wish, like this year when they sent a Stobart car to Monza for Valentino Rossi, and things like Memorial Bettega as well. Castrol Ultimate, Abu Dhabi and all our other existing partners will continue into 2009 with us". There is no news about Ford's plans for 2010. Meanwhile Suzuki confirmed that they are making plans to enter the first few rallies in the 2009 calendar, but that nothing has been said by the company beyond that

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