Motorsport News

McRAE AND PEARSON TAKE M-SPORT SEATS IN THE BRITISH CHAMPIONSH­IP

Famous surname to head the line-up for Ford Fiesta Rally2 campaign for 2024 season

- By Paul Lawrence

Max McRae will bring the family rallying dynasty back into the British Rally Championsh­ip as part of a two-car team of Ford Fiesta Rally2s with Garry Pearson and the M-Sport team.

McRae will run alongside

2023 BRC runner-up Pearson at the WRC team and will compete in at least four of the championsh­ip’s six rounds. Pearson, meanwhile, having chased M-Sport’s Adrian Fourmaux last season will try to go one better this year as he switches to the works team.

McRae, 19 years old, will follow his grandfathe­r Jimmy, his father Alistair and his uncle Colin into the BRC and the

McRae family already has a tally of eight BRC titles to its name.

After starting rallying in Australia, McRae moved to Europe and competed in the Junior European Rally Championsh­ip last year.

Now he will step up to the latest Ford Fiesta Rally2 for at least four BRC events.

In 2021, Pearson was the star of national rallying when he won four separate titles and then moved into the BRC, taking in some events in 2022 in a Fiesta Rally2.

McRae said: “I’m super excited to be doing a BRC programme with M-Sport. I can’t wait to gain some experience in a Rally2 car and I can learn so much from working with the team.”

The North West Stages on March 23 will be his first asphalt event in the Rally2 car.

Pearson added: “I think the calendar has some great events and the competitio­n is going to be fierce. Linking up with a works team will definitely benefit me and I look forward to working with Max as a team-mate.”

Team principal Richard

Millener added that the strength of the BRC was important to the whole M-Sport team.

“The BRC is a championsh­ip close to the heart of Malcolm, myself and the whole of M-Sport. So being represente­d in the UK premier series is vitally important to us,” said Millener. “I look forward to seeing how Garry and Max fare in the latest-spec Fiesta Rally2. But it won’t be an easy task as the entry to the championsh­ip is the strongest in years.”

 ?? ?? McRae will take part in several rounds
McRae will take part in several rounds
 ?? Photos: Paul and Ben Lawrence ?? Pearson will rally Fiesta again
Photos: Paul and Ben Lawrence Pearson will rally Fiesta again

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