Ford Rallye Sport and Puma team-up for WRC.

Puma AG has signed a contract to become the official supplier of technical footwear of the Ford Rallye Sport WRC team. In addition to the footwear itself, the Puma logo will be featured on the Ford Service Trucks at all WRC rallies.

"We are excited to be the partners of Ford Rallye Sport. They have a long, successful tradition in Rally," said Martin Gansler, Vice Chairman of PUMA AG, "WRC is the largest and fastest growing spectator motorsport in the world.

"Behind every WRC car is a team that is as talented, dedicated and concentrated as their driver. When a car comes home after a stage, the mechanics have only 20 minutes to service it, whether that means changing the tyres, replacing the windscreen or overhauling the suspension, whether that happens in snow, mud, gravel or desert sand. To supply all their needs is a challenge that fits our philosophy."

The FIA World Rally Championship races in 14 countries and 3 continents, starting in the mountains of Monaco, turbo-charging through the snow bound forests of Sweden, over the wide countryside of Argentina, past the historic scenery of Greece's Acropolis and ending in the mud of Wales. Over 4.8 billion people in 186 countries watch the teams battle it out on 3 continents.

"We're delighted to welcome Puma as one of our partners," said Malcolm Wilson, the former rally driver behind the wheel of the Ford attack to WRC. "The WRC covers such a wide range of terrain and different climates that it is crucial our team has footwear which allows everyone to perform their jobs to maximum capabilities. Temperatures in Sweden fall as low as -25C while in Cyprus and Greece we face temperatures of +35C, harsh terrain for anyone to perform in."

Martin Whittaker, head of Ford Rallye Sport, added: "Both Ford and Puma have major global impact in their relative markets and we're very happy to welcome Puma to Ford's world championship programme. We look forward to a long and successful future together."

Puma performance racing shoes were first used by various drivers and teams in the 1970s and early 1980s. Puma's newly formed motorsport division has assembled an impressive portfolio of sponsorships. Along with the Ford Rallye Sport and a WRC partnership, in 2003 Puma will sponsor various Formula One teams, as well as freestyle motocross champion Travis Pastrana.