Greensmith relishing Rally Germany challenge in one further M-sport call-up
Despite crashing heavily in testing for the event last year in an R5 car, Gus Greensmith says that Rally Germany was “one he was secretly hoping to do”.
Greensmith replaces M-sport
Ford Rally Team regular Elfyn
Evans – missing with a back injury
– for the second event in a row in the squad’s
Fiesta
WRC. Greensmith had regularly run in the top 10 until he hit a tree on the last stage in Finland. Germany will be his third event in a WRC car and his first on asphalt. “Germany was the one I was secretly hoping to do,” Greensmith told Motorsport News. “Tarmac has always been my stronger surface and Monte [when he won WRC 2 Pro] was a good boost. “Rally Germany was the one I was always keen to do. When I got asked, I said yes and I feel like it can be a competitive round for us.”
Greensmith says his testing crash from last year has not affected his approach to events. His co-driver Craig Parry was seriously injured in the crash, but has stayed in touch with Greensmith and remained involved in his career.
“You can’t change the past,” added Greensmith. “I would rather it never happened. That’s rallying, it’s never affected my approach to anything.
“I’m actually really looking forward to getting back. Panzerplatte is still one of my favourite stages and to drive it in a World Car will be something quite special.”
M-sport has confirmed Pontus Tidemand will join the team in what it hopes is a three-car entry for Rally Turkey, providing Evans has returned to fitness. Tidemand contested the first two events of the year with M-sport and hasn’t competed in the WRC since. M-sport was due to have a three-car team in Finland last month, but Hayden Paddon’s crash in testing destroyed the car he was supposed to use the event and he was unable to start.