Young American driver Matt Johnston, is registered for, and gearing up to compete in the 2006 FIA World Rally Championship. It has been almost 25 years since there has been an American, John Buffum, in the championship.

After winning the Rally America National Championship in 2005. Johnston, a 23 year rally driver from Grand Rapids, Michigan decided to contest the WRC in a 2006 Ford Fiesta ST. Johnston has planned four WRC events: Rallye Italia Sardinia, OMV ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Neste Oil Rally Finland, and Wales Rally GB, and his participation will make him the first American to compete in more than two World Rally Championship events in a single calendar year.

Johnston has already registered for the new Ford Fiesta Sporting International Trophy, which drivers compete with 12 other drivers from around the world in identical Ford Fiesta STs, to showcase their driving talent. Johnston is ready to compete and only has sponsorship and financing issues to sort out: "We are sitting out the first two events, [RallyRACC de Catalunya-Costa Duarada] Spain and [Rallye de France-Tour de Corse] France due to a lack of sponsorship. We hope to get that secured, and compete in the remaining 4 events of the championship. I am confident we will be able to find the money we need and compete with the world's best come May."