Ford-Werke GmbH
Cologne (ots)
- Team M-Sport, supported by Ford, is represented at the fifth round of the season with two of the more than 368 kW (500 hp) Puma Hybrid Rally1 and three Fiesta Rally2
- Rally Sweden winners Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja want to fight at the top in the first of seven gravel events in a row
- Pierre-Louis Loubet/Nicolas Gilsoul made their gravel debut with the Puma Hybrid Rally1 in Portugal a year ago and think they have a good chance
- Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria are targeting another top result in the WRC2 category with the Fiesta Rally2
For M-Sport Ford, this year’s World Rally Championship is really picking up speed this coming weekend in Portugal: The classic on the calendar is the first of a total of seven World Championship races in a row that will see the more than 368 kW (500 hp) Puma Hybrid Rally1 over lead gravel roads. A total of 19 demanding special stages (SS) between Coimbra and Porto are on the program, including classics such as the “Arganil” special stage, the Lousada special stage for spectators and the famous “Fafe” crest. It will be passed twice on Sunday. M-Sport Ford is sending two turbo-hybrid all-wheel drive vehicles from the Rallye1 top category for Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja and Pierre-Louis Loubet/Nicolas Gilsoul as well as three Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Tänak in particular thinks he has good chances for the Rally Portugal. Firstly, the Estonian has already won the event in 2019 – the year he was crowned world champion. Secondly, because he is currently fourth in the standings and will be third in the starting order behind Friday’s stage, behind Elfyn Evans from Wales and defending champion Kalle Rovanperä from Finland. If the tracks not far from the Atlantic coast remain dry, Tänak has a small advantage: while the first two vehicles have to clear the sandy road surfaces of dust and a loose layer, the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 driver could already find more grip. The goal of the Estonian is clear: After winning the winter event in Sweden and second place on the asphalt roads in Croatia, he wants to keep in touch with the top with another top result. After four of the 13 rounds of the season, Tänak and co-driver Järveoja, who are fourth in the drivers’ standings, are only separated by four World Championship points from first place.
In the second Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, Pierre-Louis Loubet is again fighting for a good result in Portugal. For the young Frenchman it is the seventh start at the gravel classic, which he contested last year with a Rally1 Puma. With seventh place overall, he also achieved the best placement in 2022. He himself counts this World Championship race as one of his favorite events.
For further reinforcement, M-Sport is also sending three of the approximately 221 kW (300 hp) Fiesta Rally2 into the race. Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria want to cause a sensation again in the WRC2 category with their turbo all-wheel drive vehicle. In addition to the French duo, the two Belgians Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka share a fiesta, in the third the Estonian Robert Virves has the notes read out by the local Hugo Magalhaes.
“Even though we’ve had a strong start to the current year, our competition doesn’t sleep and the competition is getting tougher towards the middle of the season,” explains M-Sport team boss Richard Millener. “The team is working very hard behind the scenes to ensure that we deliver the best possible performance on the special stages. We are constantly developing our rally cars and the strategy. I am very confident that this will also pay off for us in Portugal. Ott Tänak has already delivered incredible performances this season and has shown great consistency. This should continue. But I’m also very excited to see what Pierre-Louis Loubet can show on the gravel stages.”
Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, start number 8); World Cup rank: 4; Rally Portugal starts: 11th Best result: 1st place (2019)
“We are now looking forward to the gravel season, at the latest now things are getting serious in terms of the world title,” emphasizes Ott Tänak. “After our test drives before this event, we still found room for improvement in a few points, but the guys from M-Sport are working intensively on possible solutions – at the ‘shakedown’ before the start of the rally we can then check the last details. We already have in Mexico “We’ve seen that our competitors are very strong on gravel. That’s why we have to continue to develop in the coming rounds. Here in Portugal it can be very rough and challenging, especially on the second passage of the stages. We want to keep in touch with the top and our defend title chances.”
Pierre-Louis Loubet / Nicolas Gilsoul (Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, car number 7); World Championship rank: 10; Rally Portugal starts: 6th Best result: 7th place (2022)
“I’m really looking forward to Portugal – this World Championship round is one of my favorite events,” said Pierre-Louis Loubet. “Since I’ve driven there a couple of times, I also have quite a good knowledge of the track. Our goal is a good result. Last year this rally was my first with M-Sport on gravel, so despite the lack of experience with the Car already fit. I think we can set highlights again.”
Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (Ford Fiesta Rally2, car number 22); World Championship rank: 6 (WRC2); Rally Portugal starts: 3rd Best result: 6th place (2021)
“This will be my third Rally Portugal, but the first with a WRC2 car,” explains Adrien Fourmaux. “I like the event a lot, because I love the atmosphere with the many spectators at the side of the track. It’s finally back on gravel for us, we want to build on our good performance from Mexico. We’re aiming for a top result and are working very hard for it aim.”
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