Fourmaux made an immediate impression in the season opener in Monte Carlo, securing a fine third place in his impressive Hyundai debut. However, things took a downturn on the snowy roads of Sweden in February and again in Kenya in March, as both rallies ended in retirements.
The French driver did manage to redeem himself in Kenya on Sunday by collecting maximum points from the Super Sunday stage. In the upcoming Rally Islas Canarias, Fourmaux could even be considered one of the favourites for victory.
Among current drivers, Fourmaux is one of the few to have competed in the Canary Islands this decade. In the 2020 season, he claimed victory at the wheel of a Ford Rally2 car.
“Having competed at Rally Islas Canarias in 2020, some of the stages will be quite familiar to me. I know what the grip is like both when it’s dry and when it’s wet, so this sets us up well for all possibilities,” says Fourmaux.
“This event is a pure tarmac rally, so precision is required across the pace notes, the lines we are taking on the stages and managing the tyres.“
Fourmaux has already secured podium finishes in the WRC, but he has never finished higher than third. Now, his goals are set high.
“It’s completely different on this surface; everything goes faster, and you can feel every steering adjustment on the tyres straight away, so it’s really reactive,” Fourmaux summarises.
“The transition from gravel to tarmac can feel like driving a completely different car and the G-force we take can be a lot. The aim is to deliver as strong a result as we can – I would like to get back on the podium, or even take it one step further.”
Rally Islas Canarias kicks off with a shakedown stage on Thursday morning. The actual competition begins on Friday, featuring a total of 18 special stages covering around 300 kilometres.
