M-Sport Ford wants to end the World Rally Championship season with another highlight at the finale in Japan (PHOTO)

2023-11-14 17:26:14

Vienna (ots) – Hello and goodbye: The season finale of this year’s World Rally Championship in Japan is an event of farewell and new beginnings for M-Sport Ford. On the winding asphalt roads of the Aichi and Gifu regions, Ott Tänak and co-driver Martin Järveoja are racing for the last time in the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1. The two Estonians have already won two World Cup races this year with the 368 kW (500 hp) turbo-hybrid all-wheel drive vehicle. At the premiere of the new Rally Central Europe around the Bavarian town of Passau, they finished third. At the same time, Adrien Fourmaux and co-pilot Alexandre Coria are returning to the cockpit of the spectacular Class 1 vehicle following almost a year. The two Frenchmen achieved great success with the Fiesta Rally2 in 2023, such as the title in the British Rally Championship. Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka round off the performance as the third crew in the M-Sport squad. The Belgian with a Luxembourg license had competed in the last two World Cup rallies with the Puma Hybrid Rally1 and made a strong impression, especially at the Rally Central Europe in the border triangle of Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany. In Japan the two will once more be driving a Ford Fiesta Rally2. With the 300 hp turbo all-wheel drive they won the WRC2 category last year.

• Farewell performance: Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja want to jump onto the podium for the third time in a row with the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 in what will be their last start for the time being
• Comeback: After almost a year, Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria get back into the 368 kW (500 hp) Puma Hybrid Rally1
• Class change: Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka return to the cockpit of the Ford Fiesta Rally2 and want to repeat their class victory at the Rally Japan last year

The last World Championship race of the year around Nagoya offers a picturesque landscape and difficult conditions. The 304 kilometers of special stages lead over narrow paths that require a particularly precise and technically challenging driving style – there is rarely room for the popular “cutting” on the inside of the curve. Added to this is the autumnal weather. It often brings wet stretches and mixes them with leaves to create a particularly slippery composition. This means that the tire strategy once once more assumes special importance. A new spectator test at the Nagoya Stadium opens the rally action on Thursday evening. On Saturday and Sunday, instead of a service and repair break, participants only have access to a so-called tire changing zone at midday – any damage to the vehicle will therefore have a particularly disadvantageous effect.

“We are really looking forward to returning to Japan – a fantastic country and an exciting rally,” emphasizes M-Sport team boss Richard Millener. “The special stages seem to be even more difficult this year than before. We say goodbye to Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja at this event. It would be nice if we might do this with a third podium result in a row before we wish them all the best for the future wish. At the same time, Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria return to the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1. This comeback requires a particularly sensitive approach from them in this difficult rally. But I am sure that they will make the most of the opportunity. Grégoire Munster and Louis After the last two events with the Ford Puma, Louka are now back at the start in the Fiesta Rally2 with great confidence. Of course, the two of them want to repeat last year’s great result and end their season with another highlight.”

Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, start number 8); World Cup rank: 4; Rally Japan starts: 2nd Best result: 2nd place (2022)

“I’m looking forward to the Rally Japan with enthusiasm, I’m also a big fan of the cuisine there,” said Ott Tänak. “The landscape is beautiful, especially at this time of year, even if it can get quite cold at night. The stages mostly lead through deep forests and are rather slow, especially since we can hardly do well in the corners. After the podium result at the Rally Central Europe “We want to end the season successfully in Japan.”

Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (Ford Fiesta Rally2, Start number 24); WM-Rank: 19; Rally-Japan-Starts: 0.

“We have worked very hard all season and I am very grateful for the opportunity to compete here in Japan,” said Adrien Fourmaux. “I arrived a little earlier to look around this great country with its so respectful people. I find the Japanese culture very interesting. Our goal for the rally is to make as much of our opportunity as possible. It “It’s been almost a year since I drove the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1. I’ll take it carefully and make sure we finish all the tests and gain as much experience as possible.”

Grégoire Munster / Louis Louka (Ford Fiesta Rally2, starting number 13). WC rank: 21; Rallye-Japan-Starts: 1. Best result: 7th place (2022), WRC2 rank 1.

“I think back with joy to the Rally Japan a year ago because I was able to win our class,” emphasizes Grégoire Munster. “It was a really great event, so I’m excited to get back. I think I’ve been able to develop significantly as a rally driver since then. When I started with the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, I gained a lot of self-confidence, especially at the Rally Central Europe “With the Fiesta Rally2 we now want to achieve another top result and ideally repeat last year’s success – even if this won’t be easy because the competition is really strong.”

Questions & Contact:

Ing. Christian Wotypka
Ford Motor Company (Austria) GmbH
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