Against many expectations, the British team secured its first podium finish in Sweden this February, with Adrien Fourmaux clinching third place. Many doubted that Fourmaux and Gregoire Munster would achieve any podiums this year for M-Sport, but the team got off to a great start.
At the upcoming Safari Rally in Kenya, kicking off on Thursday, M-Sport has another good chance to surprise. The harsh conditions always reduce the number of competitors, so smart driving can lead to high placements.
“Kenya is an incredibly special event for everyone involved and one that invites a considerable amount of anticipation! To say it’s unique is an understatement, the kinds of stages experienced here you absolutely won’t see anywhere else,” praises M-Sport team principal Richard Millener.
“It’s a particular engineering challenge too, with the additional ground clearance needed, and when it’s wet it doesn’t make the cars easy to work on!”
This year, Rally1 cars can be equipped with so-called snorkels, which are designed to prevent sand dust and water from getting into the engine. Snorkels are a nostalgic throwback to past decades of the WRC and they stir sentimentality in Millener.
“Thanks to the special regulations for this event, the team have been able to develop a modified air intake system that includes the famous snorkel. I’m personally very pleased to see the snorkel back on top-level WRC cars, but that’s probably mostly nostalgia talking,” Millener chuckles.
Both Fourmaux and Munster have competed in the Safari Rally before, so they won’t be diving into the unknown. Alongside the young drivers, M-Sport Ford’s lineup also includes the Greek-Belgian gentleman driver Jourdan Serderidis.
“With the weather prediction we’ve seen so far, it’s likely to be a typically tough event. Adrien and Gregoire both have some good experience in Kenya and we hope to see some good results for them both, and for Adrien to hold on to his championship position,” Millener comments, referring to the French driver’s third place in the standings.
The Safari Rally in Kenya runs from Thursday to Sunday, featuring a total of 19 special stages covering just under 370 kilometers.
