Richard Millener, the head of the M-Sport team, expresses his enthusiasm for the upcoming World Rally Championship season, starting with Rally Finland. Despite not being in contention for the drivers’ title, the team has exceeded expectations with Adrien Fourmaux, who has achieved impressive results since being promoted to a Rally1 seat. Fourmaux has consistently performed well on all surfaces this season, earning three podium finishes and five stage wins. With a target of fourth place in the drivers’ championship, Millener believes Fourmaux can compete for similar positions in the upcoming events.
Millener is determined for his lead driver to give it his all in Finland, stating that the team is not looking to inherit positions but rather to fight for them. He acknowledges the challenges faced in fast rallies where falling behind can result in losing time. Despite this, Fourmaux has shown resilience and the ability to reset and continue pushing. Millener is optimistic about Finland, as it presents a new rally and an opportunity for Fourmaux to showcase his skills.
Fourmaux acknowledges that M-Sport has been lagging behind Toyota and Hyundai on certain stages of Rally Latvia, attributing it to the engine. However, he expresses confidence in the team’s efforts to improve the engine performance. Finland poses different challenges with more corners and crests, requiring a strong engine. Nevertheless, Fourmaux feels more confident about Finland compared to the previous rally.
Last year, Fourmaux delivered an exceptional performance in Finland, finishing second in WRC2 and third in the Rally2 class. He enjoyed the rally and appreciates its significance in the championship. Both Fourmaux and his teammate, Grégoire Munster, are looking forward to returning to Finland, with Munster feeling prepared after participating in two high-speed events prior to this.
Despite facing traction issues in Latvia, Munster remains optimistic and eagerly anticipates the upcoming rally. He plans to study onboards to familiarize himself with the course, having competed in Finland the previous year.
