This (if true of course) says it all about the M-Sport operation. Malcolm would use every trick in the book from slowing down to get a better road position to shortchanging someone by putting parts which were unlikely to last a full rally on their car and potentially ignoring things which are pretty much guaranteed to give his customer punctures.
I know I'm grinding my own stone when I say this, but I think Malcolm Wilson is a truly poor team boss. He had Colin and Carlos in his team and and the rather quick Focus 2003 WRC on the horizon so what did he do? He got rid of 2 of the best drivers in the WRC in the season where both of them went on to fight for the title in the last round..... I think he also takes the "If you want to win, take a Finn" mantra a little too literally....