M-Sport wants to continue the good series in Corsica

Le Tour de Corse pourrait être l’opportunité pour M-Sport de recoller à ses opposants. Après un début de saison poussif, l’équipe de Malcolm Wilson a eu la satisfaction de décrocher son premier podium de la saison au Rally of Mexico with Elfyn Evans before returning to the Rallye des 10 Virages where she won last year with Sébastien Ogier.

Elfyn Evans, who already has four starts on the Isle of Beauty with a second place in 2015, will represent M-Sport's best hopes.

“I can't wait to compete in the first real asphalt event of the season, confirms the Welshman. This edition of the Tour de Corse promises to be tricky since 2/3 of the roads will be completely new. The recognitions will be very important and there will be a lot of work to do on the grades. »

“It’s a demanding rally, but the stages are very pleasant, continues the M-Sport driver. My podium in Mexico was a great result which allowed us to move back up to the Championship. We will start in the top 5 next week and we will have to capitalize on that. We had two days of testing with Teemu (Suninen) and the car seemed very good. We will aim for a new podium and we will do everything to obtain it. »

“Elfyn loves this event and has done well in the past, adds Team Principal Richard Millener. This is where he took the lead for the first time in WRC and I see no reason which would prevent him from aiming for the podium again. Adversity will be fierce, but we have the same opportunities as everyone else. »

Teemu Suninen will tackle the Tour de Corse for the first time at the wheel of a WRC after having gained experience in WRC 2s.

“I started my career on asphalt, but karts are quite different from WRCs!, specifies the Finn. It's important to have a well-tuned car at the Tour de Corse and I think we achieved that. I didn't race here last year, but the roads are new. I understood that they would be a little faster and a little closer, a bit like in Catalonia. The most important thing will be to finish the rally on a good note, it is important for the rest of the season. »

M-Sport has developed new features on the aero appendages in order to optimize the performance of the Ford Fiesta WRC.

“Having proven our potential on snow and dirt, I am sure we will do the same on asphalt, says Richard Millener. The Fiesta has always had an efficient chassis in all conditions and the team has worked hard to get the settings perfect. The first stage will be tough because the entire day will be completed without assistance. The crews will have to be concentrated. »