New Ford Focus wins second world rally in a row in Sweden. Ford's 50th world rally victory. Double celebration for new Ford driver Marcus Grönholm – Sunday washis 38th birthday!

Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen's victory on Sunday's Swedish Rally was the 50th triumph for Ford in the World Rally Championship since the series began in 1973. 

The Finns claimed the Blue Oval's landmark half century when their Ford Focus RS World Rally Car won the second round of the 2006 championship, their second consecutive victory.

Ford's maiden success came in 1973 when Finland's Timo Mäkinen won what was then called the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland in an Escort RS 1600. 

The driver with the most wins for Ford is Colin McRae who won nine rallies in a Focus from 1999- 2002.  

Ford's roll of honour is:

1973 Finland, Great Britain                    Timo Mäkinen            Escort RS1600

1974 Finland                                         Hannu Mikkola           Escort RS1600 Great Britain                                 Timo Mäkinen            Escort RS1600

1975 Great Britain                                 Timo Mäkinen            Escort RS1800 1976 Great Britain                                 Roger Clark             Escort RS1800

1977 Kenya, Greece, Great Britain        Bjorn Waldegard Escort RS1800 Finland                                         Kyosti Hamalainen       Escort RS1800

1978 Sweden                                        Bjorn Waldegard Escort RS1800 Great Britain                                 Hannu Mikkola           Escort RS1800

1979 Portugal, New Zealand, Great Britain     Hannu Mikkola           Escort RS1800 Greece, Canada                          Bjorn Waldegard Escort RS1800

1980            Greece                                          Ari Vatanen             Escort RS1800

1981 Greece, Brazil, Finland                  Ari Vatanen             Escort RS1800

1988 France                                          Didier Auriol           Sierra RS Cosworth     

1993 Portugal, France, Spain                 François Delecour       Escort RS Cosworth      Greece                                         Miki Biasion            Escort RS Cosworth Italy                                              Franco Cunico           Escort RS Cosworth     

1994 Monte Carlo                                 François Delecour       Escort RS Cosworth Finland                                         Tommi Mäkinen   Escort RS Cosworth

1996 Indonesia                                      Carlos Sainz            Escort RS Cosworth

1997 Greece, Indonesia                         Carlos Sainz            Escort RS WRC

1999 Kenya, Portugal                          Colin McRae             Focus WRC

2000 Spain, Greece                              Colin McRae             Focus RS WRC Cyprus                                        Carlos Sainz            Focus RS WRC

2001 Argentina, Cyprus, Greece           Colin McRae             Focus RS WRC

2002 Argentina                                      Carlos Sainz            Focus RS WRC Greece, Kenya                             Colin McRae             Focus RS WRC

2003 Greece, Finland                             Markko Märtin           Focus RS WRC

2004 Mexico, France, Spain                  Markko Märtin           Focus RS WRC

2006 Monte Carlo, Sweden                  Marcus Grönholm Focus RS WRC