Tanak praises new M-sport Fiesta after test

M-sport’s second 2017 prototype Ford Fiesta RS WRC ran in Spain for the first time earlier this month with the team reporting positive results from the all-new chassis.

The Cumbrian squad has been running a mule 2016 car in its testing up until two weeks ago. Ott Tanak was the first man to test the all-new car, which ran for four days on Spanish asphalt, and the Estonian was impressed at the step up in performance.

“This is a big step,” said Tanak. “I can honestly say this is a very special car. It’s so nice, there’s so much potential – when I have been testing, it’s a bit like coming back to the Group N car when I am getting in the current [World Rally Car]. The aero is incredible. Of course we are getting some downforce from these [2016] cars, but when you get to a certain speed with the new one you can really feel the thing being pushed down into the ground.”

Team principal Malcolm Wilson added: “We’ve seen this car coming together and it’s really satisfying to see it running now. We’re delighted with the results we’ve had coming back from the guys so far.”

There are two more chassis in build at M-sport and testing is really starting to ramp up with the team moving to Finland next week before coming back to Spain. It’s high-altitude running in France – in preparation for Monte Carlo – and a Sweden winter test straight after that.

“It’s a pretty intense period for the team,” said Wilson, “but when you see the results, it’s really all worth it.”