BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT set for launch.

The BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team has announced that it will unveil its new livery at the Autosport International Show on Thursday.

The 'launch' will take place at 10.50 hours local time on the main stage at the NEC in Birmingham.

BP Ford team director, Malcolm Wilson and Mark Deans, director of motorsport for Ford of Europe will both be in attendance, as will team drivers, Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala.

Latvala has been promoted to the Ford 'A' team for 2008, to fill the void left following Marcus Gronholm's decision to retire.

Ford will be out to win the manufacturers' championship for the third year in succession this season, while Hirvonen, who is now the team's #1 driver, will be hoping to be able to challenge Citroen's Sebastien Loeb and stop the Frenchman taking a record fifth drivers' crown.

More to follow on Thursday...