All three of the British team’s Rally1 drivers were forced to retire on the final day of the demanding classic event.
M-Sport’s troubles began early on Super Sunday, when Grégoire Munster retired on the road section due to a technical issue. A couple of hours later, the team’s full-season drivers Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong also ran into trouble.
McErlean hit the barrier and damaged the suspension on his Ford Puma, while Armstrong went off the road on the same stage and struck a rock, also breaking the suspension.
As a result, none of the Ford Puma drivers made it to the finish.
“While Sunday was a big disappointment and none of our three Rally1 cars reached the finish, there were still many positives to take away – chief among them, the outstanding WRC debut of Jon and Shane (co-driver Byrne),” team principal Richard Millener said, praising Armstrong, who was contesting his first event in the top class of the WRC.
“Sitting as high as third overall and consistently matching, and even beating, established Rally1 competitors, they have really announced their arrival at this level. I’m excited to see what the rest of the season brings.”
The retirements brought an end to an extraordinary record for M-Sport. The team had scored manufacturers’ points in 231 consecutive World Rally Championship events.
“Sadly, our consecutive manufacturer points-scoring record, which began here in Monte Carlo in 2002, came to an end. While that is a huge shame, we can be incredibly proud of keeping the record alive for 24 years and of the legacy it represents for Ford and M-Sport,” Millener said.
The second round of the World Rally Championship season will be held in Sweden in mid-February.
