M-SPORT TARGET AERO UPGRADE
M-sport has begun testing a revised aerodynamic package on its Ford Fiesta WRC – with the improvements set for Rally Finland later this month.
The British-based team goes into the second half of the season chasing Hyundai in both the teams’ and drivers’ championships, but Malcolm Wilson is confident the improvements made to the Fiesta through the mid-season break will offer the defending champions an edge in the remaining six rallies.
Wilson told MN: “We’ve got some parts coming for Finland and obviously we hope they’re going to be an improvement. For us it’s mainly aero. You’ll definitely notice what we’ve got! The work on the rear wing was done in the wind tunnel in Charlotte when the car was out there [after Rally Mexico], the guys have been working hard on it since then. It’s going to be a big change at the rear for us.”
Stability from the rear of the car has been an area of concern for Sebastien Ogier on some events, but increased downforce should help in that area.
M-sport began its week of testing in central Finland with Elfyn Evans on Monday, Ogier took over the test Fiesta for his two days today (Wednesday) with Teemu Suninen running the car for a single day on Friday.
Wilson admitted this would be an important week for Ogier, following his crash in testing at this event 12 months ago.
“It was a difficult rally for Seb last year,” said Wilson.
“But he knows what it’s all about, he’s got so much experience. He knows how to deal with these situations.”
Following his heavy crash in testing, the Frenchman suffered a similarly heavy accident in the rally proper. His co-driver Julien Ingrassia suffered concussion in the shunt and the pair were ruled out of the Jyvaskyla event on day one.
Unlike its rivals, M-sport has steered clear of this weekend’s Rally Estonia (see page16) and has decided to concentrate its efforts and preparations for the season’s fastest event on the representative roads.