Sainz immediately wins a good second place behind Piero Liatti, a result that the Spaniard will repeat also in Sweden.

In Spain both Escorts do not score points but Sainz hits the second position in Corsica.

From the next race, the Rally of Argentina, Ford replaces Armin Schwarz with the expert Juha Kankkunen, who obtained good results from the beginning, in Greece at the Acropolis Rally Ford made a double with Sainz first in front of Kankkunen; in New Zealand they finish in the same order 2nd and 3rd and in the New Zealand round the Escort WRC is updated and thanks to the FIA homologation of 1 July 1997 it is equipped with a more modern and performing six-speed X-Trac sequential gearbox instead of the "H" linkage as well as numerous other evolutions on suspensions, electronic systems and electronic differential control.

The next race, the Rally of Spain, sees the return of Bruno Thiry, but for the team managed by Malcolm Wilson it will be a double retirement with Kankkunen going off the road and mechanical failure on Thiry's Escort.

After Kankkunen's 3rd place in Finland, the season proceeds quietly for the two Ford drivers.