Image: 

Tanner Foust announced a multi-year partnership with Ford today to represent the Blue Oval in the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC), European Rallycross Championship (ERC) and at X Games 17 in Los Angeles.

Foust, the most successful rally driver in X Games history, will drive a Ford Fiesta and the long-term agreement means he will compete behind the wheel of a Ford for many years to come. His programme will be supported by Rockstar Energy Drink and Etnies.

Foust has carved a unique niche in the world of action motor sports, showcasing the skills that made him a three-time gold medalist at X Games as well as a champion drifter and rally driver.
He balances his driving with an ever expanding broadcast career that has seen him host various programs on SPEED Channel, and Foust now serves as co-host of the critically acclaimed Top Gear USA on the History Channel.

Foust first drove a Ford Fiesta at X Games in 2009, in what proved to be a turning point in his career. His experience with the Fiesta and his 2010 exposure to a limited European Rallycross schedule has encouraged him to focus full-time on rallycross in 2011. He will drive in all 10 rounds of the European Rallycross Championship as well as the entire inaugural four-event Global Rallycross Championship in the United States.

“There is no doubt that Ford is on fire right now with its complete line-up of cars and trucks,” said Foust. “Internationally small cars with 2-litre engines are considered affordable sports cars as opposed to the perception we have in the United States that cars like the Fiesta only get great fuel economy. Rallycross and X Games are a great showcase of the performance capabilities of these platforms. For Ford this is nothing new as they have been at the top of the racing world in compact cars since the early 70s.”

Foust spent several years as a child in Scotland where he discovered rallying and learned to drive on the country roads near his home. He returned to the US and went into a pre-med track at the University of Colorado, earning a biology degree. He spent his summers at the track, trading seat time in racing cars for mechanic work and driver coaching jobs.

After college, he began working as an ice driving coach, an instructor at automotive marketing events and competing in anything he could, including rallying and drifting. He made the transition to full time racing in 1996 and has split his time between Formula Drift, Rally America and now Rallycross.

He moved to California to begin stunt driving for Hollywood films such as the Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Dukes of Hazzard, in the Bourne Ultimatum, Iron Man 2 and in the upcoming Red Dawn.
“Tanner brings that rare combination of skills and experience honed in racing, winning championships, stunt driving and getting the most out of everything from supercars to subcompact cars as part of his TV shows. He is one of the most versatile drivers competing anywhere today,” said Jamie Allison director Ford North America Motorsports.

“I have known Tanner for a few years and his involvement with Ford Racing in our action sports programme allows us to connect with a new generation of enthusiasts who are growing up on actions sports," he added.

Foust's impact spans racing to broadcast TV channels to Rockstar Energy Drink and Etnies, two very influential lifestyle brands aimed at millennials - all of which, when combined, provide unique promotional opportunities.

While Foust will compete primarily in a Fiesta, he was involved in the launch of the 2012 Ford Focus in the United States as part of Ford’s Global Focus Test Drive. He will support the upcoming launch of the 2012 Focus ST, the EcoBoost turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder version of the Focus due later this year.

“The automobile has always been part of pop culture, but it could be said that the passion kids have for cars today isn’t what it once was,” said Foust. “I am excited to work with Ford especially on development projects like the Focus ST that are designed to put the fun back into driving. Driving for me is simply the most fun thing I do. Together with Ford we’re going to help define what fun to drive truly means – on the track and off.”

Foust is exploring opportunities outside of his global Rallycross programme including opportunities in off-road truck and sports car endurance racing.

END

Photo: WorldRallySport | Aaron Kathman