The new era of WRC has opened in the best way for the M-Sport Ford team. The success achieved by Sébastien Loeb and Isabelle Galmiche at the wheel of the Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid EcoBoost brought the team back to the glory of 2017-2018 when, thanks to Sébastien Ogier, Julien Ingrassia and a Ford Fiesta WRC Plus in great shape, it won 3 of the 4 titles up for grabs.
This confirms how M-Sport is a team that is very attentive to changes in regulations, but also very good at interpreting their peculiarities. Maybe in Monte-Carlo the Pumas weren’t the fastest Rally1s, but confirming the excellent work done in Cumbria and Ford Performance was also the podium for Craig Breen and Paul Nagle and fifth place for Gus Greensmith and Jonas Andersson.
Results far from random, those obtained by the British team around the Principality. The Ford Puma is a certainty, but Monte-Carlo is considered by the team only the first step on a path that will last many months.
M-Sport, in close collaboration with Ford Performance, is continuing to work with great attention and care on the development of the hybrid car that has already brought home a great satisfaction.
The new technical director of M-Sport, Chris Williams, has revealed in fact that the team will not be able to sit on its laurels. Toyota in Monte-Carlo proved to be a fast and formidable car. Hyundai, despite obvious difficulties, is nevertheless very feared for its ability to react.
“For me there is no doubt. The others will catch up with us very quickly, if they haven’t already,” said the British engineer.
“We have done a hard work to get this far, in this condition. But the hard work will not stop. We are moving forward and we will also do it throughout the season. Testing with these cars is one thing, racing, on the other hand, is another one”.
Monte-Carlo right award for M-Sport
Williams, however, also wanted to get back on the big Monte-Carlo win. A well-deserved victory by M-Sport, which has sacrificed many months of the past seasons, as well as resources for the development of the Ford Fiesta, in order to be ready for this new era of World Rally.
“Monte-Carlo was a fantastic success. It was incredible. Ever since Loeb sat in the car, he liked it immediately.”
“But, beyond Sébastien, everyone at M-Sport and Ford has worked so hard to get to this point. I can’t quantify the great work Ford Performance has done, we are working closely with them,” concluded Williams.
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