Munster spent the past two years as a full-season driver for M-Sport Ford in the WRC. For the upcoming campaign, however, he no longer has a seat with the British outfit.
One of the reasons behind the change is that he will no longer receive the same level of sponsorship support from his long-time backer Jourdan Serderidis. However, for the opening round in Monte Carlo, he will still compete in Serderidis’ privately owned Ford Puma Rally1.
Munster will head to Monte Carlo straight from the Dakar Rally, where he serves as Serderidis’ navigator. Serderidis told Belgian outlet Autotrends that Monte Carlo was added to Munster’s programme only after the WRC driver agreed to join the Greek businessman for the iconic desert rally.
“I pointed out to him that taking part in the Dakar didn’t prevent him from being at the Monte Carlo recce. As he ultimately had nothing, I offered him to drive my Puma,” Serderidis explained.
Munster’s plans for the rest of the year remain open. What is clear is that he intends to move into Rally2 machinery in both international and national rallies. The goal is to prepare for 2027, when new regulations allow the fight for the world title with either the incoming WRC27 cars or Rally2 machines.
Munster can no longer rely on Serderidis’ backing in the same way. He must now secure a seat himself.
“He needs to receive contract offers. If they don’t come, it means he doesn’t interest the manufacturers. And if that’s the case, he needs to do something else with his life,” Serderidis said, in an unusually blunt assessment.
“He has a few contacts here and there, and I think he will eventually find a seat,” he added.
The season-opening Rally Monte Carlo runs from 22–25 January. With Dakar ending on 17 January, Munster will need to travel directly from Saudi Arabia to France for recce.
