In the latest episode of More than Machine, a rather surprising bombshell is dropped. Adrien Fourmaux, who has had a strong season with M-Sport Ford, speaks very openly about his situation.
Fourmaux has been surrounded by transfer rumours for some time, with speculation that he has been negotiating a contract with Hyundai, among other teams. However, the new episode reveals that the Frenchman has plenty of good options.
“I got the offer from Hyundai and I still have offer from Toyota like I told you,” Fourmaux says to his significant other in the episode.
Hyundai’s contract offer comes as no surprise, but Toyota’s offer is quite unexpected. Toyota’s team principal, Jari-Matti Latvala, had previously stated that the team was not actively negotiating with Fourmaux.
Fourmaux reveals that Toyota has offered him a half-season programme, which he says does not particularly interest him. Hyundai, on the other hand, has offered him a full-season contract, an option Fourmaux says he is keen to consider.
In the episode, Fourmaux’s partner asks if he’s heard anything from his current employer, M-Sport. This response is also unexpected.
“No, I’m still waiting on their part. Guess they don’t want to have me,” Fourmaux reveals.
Fourmaux then asks his partner what he should do. The advice he receives is to wait for M-Sport’s offer before making a final decision.
M-Sport team principal Richard Millener previously commented on the contract situation to RallyJournal.com, though he didn’t directly address the current state of negotiations.
“The goal is to remain as we are and be competitive as possible. But at the same time, we have to be realistic of what we can achieve with the budgets we have. And sometimes if that means you have to let somebody go and it’s not just… I’m not just talking about the possibility of Adrien here,” Millener said cryptically.
You can watch the latest episode of the More than Machine documentary series in the embedded YouTube video below.
