Ford of Sweden has announced that double world rally champion Marcus Grönholm will drive a 600bhp Ford Fiesta in up to six rounds of the 2008 European Rallycross Championship division one for Andreas Eriksson's Motor Sport Evolution team. 

Grönholm, who led the BP Ford World Rally Team to back-to-back manufacturers' titles in the FIA World Rally Championship in 2006 and 2007 before retiring from the sport, may also compete in additional Nordic rallycross events.

This will be Grönholm's first experience of top level rallycross and the opening round of the championship will be in Portugal on 3-4 May.  After retiring from rallying at the end of last season, the 40-year-old Finn took up a role as an ambassador for Ford of Europe.