Norway’s driver Petter Solberg and co-driver UK’s Chris Patterson try to control their Ford Fiesta RS WRC as they run off the road during the third stage of the Rallye de France-Alsace, WRC event, in Epfig, France, Oct. 6, 2012. — AFP

BERLIN — Ford is pulling out of the World Rally Championship at the end of this season, Ford Europe’s Vice President Roelant de Waard announced Monday.



“It’s better for the company and the Ford marque to pull out of the World Championship,” de Waard wrote on the American constructor’s Facebook page in comments reported by German news agency SID, an AFP subsidiary.



He added that the decision, based on economic reasons with Ford sales in Europe down 19 percent on this year’s first set of figures, had not been an easy one to take.



Ford will, however, continue to supply the M-Sport organization, its partner in the championship, with cars and engines.



Ford’s Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala is placed third in the standings behind already crowned champion Sebastien Loeb, who has announced his intention to only compete in a handful of rallies next term.



German car maker BMW has also said it is pulling the Mini team out of the World Rally Championship at the end of this season.



The company said it will continue to support the Mini Portugal team.



The Mini WRC team has 26 points this season and is seventh out of eight teams in the manufacturers’ standings. There are two races left in the season. — Agencies