The 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season has thus far been a fairly successful one for the M-Sport Ford team, as it has secured several podium finishes and continues to battle it out in the championship race with an evolving car and driver lineup. M-Sport Ford did face a bit of a proverbial road bump at last weekend’s Latvia Rally, however, suffering mechanical issues that partially derailed its efforts, but now, the team has set its sights squarely on the upcoming Rally Finland.
After a bit of a hot streak that had most recently led to its third straight podium finish and a successful debut for the non-hybrid Puma Rally1 at Rally Poland, the M-Sport Ford headed into Latvia quite confident. However, Mārtiņš Sesks – who was making his debut in the hybrid Puma Rally1, suffered a transmission issue in the final Power Stage that essentially ruined his efforts at securing another podium for the outfit. At the same time, Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria wound up in fourth following three straight podium finishes.
Now, the M-Sport Ford team will look to regroup with its three teams at the ninth round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship in Finland, which also happens to be one of the toughest events on the calendar, thanks to its gravel surface, fast stages lined with trees, and multiple jumps throughout. All eyes will certainly be on Fourmaux, who currently sits fifth in the driver’s championship standings and will also be making his fifth appearance in Finland.
“Although it hasn’t been long at all since our last rally, I am excited to be heading out to Finland,” said M-Sport Team Principal Richard Millener. “The rally heritage here always brings such an incredible atmosphere with fans in the service park and on the stages. High-speed rallies always bring that extra element of tension, and in Finland anything can happen with trees so close to the road and these twisty forest sections!”
“Poland and Latvia have provided some good preparation for the ultimate fast-gravel rally here in Finland. Adrien has some good experience here, and he’s delivered some very strong results so far this season, so I think everyone is looking to see what he can do here. Grégoire will have some work to do to adapt to the increased speed from the Rally1 car here, and William has a whole new set of notes to work on! It should be an interesting event for all the teams and I’m excited to see what the podium looks like on Sunday.”
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