Sesks had two opportunities to showcase his talent behind the wheel of the Ford Puma Rally1 this summer. The first was in the Rally Poland, without the hybrid unit, and a few weeks later in his home event in Latvia, this time with the hybrid system.
Sesks exceeded all expectations. In Poland, even without the hybrid boost, the Latvian wasn’t just another name on the list. Finishing fifth was an impressive achievement.
In Latvia, the expectations were naturally higher. But he outdid himself. He secured his first stage wins, and a podium finish slipped away only due to technical issues on the final stage.
These two outstanding performances instantly turned Sesks into a sensation. The Latvian fully deserves the praise and acclaim he’s received.
It’s been a month since the Latvian WRC round, and Sesks hasn’t completely disappeared from the headlines. Rumours suggest that the 24-year-old driver might get another opportunity this year, possibly in the gravel of Rally Chile at the end of September. M-Sport Ford’s team principal, Richard Millener, mentioned a couple of weeks ago to RallyJournal.com that discussions about Sesks have taken place, but nothing has been finalised yet.
Read more: WRC team boss comments on hot rumour regarding rally sensation
Rally Chile would be a true test for Sesks. While he was outstanding in his previous two WRC events, he had a significant advantage: Sesks knew both rallies and their stages well from his experience in the European Rally Championship, while for many other drivers, the events were almost new. Moreover, Poland and Latvia are precisely the type of rallies where Sesks feels most at home.
Chile also features fast gravel roads, but the average speed of the event is considerably lower than in Poland and Latvia. And most importantly, Sesks has no prior experience on the South American gravel roads.
Chile would reveal Sesks’s true level – where he really stands in comparison to the world’s rally elite when starting on equal footing. It is to be hoped that the Latvian can make it to the start line.
What seems certain, however, is that Sesks will eventually – perhaps soon – secure a place in the top tier of the World Rally Championship. As Toyota’s team principal Jari-Matti Latvala has previously stated, WRC teams have their eyes on three future prospects: Oliver Solberg, Sami Pajari, and Martins Sesks.
