Sesks will get announced eventually.
Probably Munster too. Just for limited programmes.
People want more Rally1 cars. Well. You got it.
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Sesks will get announced eventually.
Probably Munster too. Just for limited programmes.
People want more Rally1 cars. Well. You got it.
Rich Millener said on the DF podcast that the Rally2 Fiesta is getting another upgrade. He sees it as still competitive for 2026 and maybe even 2027 while M-Sport still decides on a new car.
Romet Jürgenson was testing the upgraded car today at Greystoke.
Munster has announced he will participate in RMC with the Puma. So, it's 3 Pumas for there and more than likely between Sesks and Munster for every round.
Munster will use Serderidis car. Nothing related to Sesks.
Nobody out of three will shine out there, so it doesn't matter at all.
Vi do not know; might be that McEarlen is much closer to top than we think. Monte is not about speed, but smart and brave driving. Also Munster might surprise with 1 SS win - he has no pressure anymore.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
My guess: ME, Mu each will win 1 SS, whille Armstrong will make 2 top 5 times.
M-Sport team principal Richard Millener has made it clear the team wants to continue working with Ford in the World Rally Championship.
https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/m-spo...ove-from-ford/
Obviously. Like I said, the BS wording in some random blog were untrue.
You are forgeting the other half of the message. They would like to continue with Ford, but Millener said they still are a business. So if Ford is pulling out from WRC, then they have no other choice.
Ford pulled out from WRC after the 2012 season. Having only the badge and some ''support'' isn't proper support. They will of course do evertyhing to keep Ford cars, but if the things will not sort, they would need to pull out or start talking to potential new partners.
Also I don't get it why they didn't do new Rally2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 car and keep their business high and rather put every single resource in Puma and hoping Ford would come back, because it didn't and will not. Now it's kinda too late and I think that even upgrading their old Fiesta will not making them miracles. So it's part their fault also to drain their resources.
There wasn't / isn't a suitable (Ford) road car after the Fiesta. They already said the Puma is too tall for rallying as a Rally2/3/4/5.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
The Puma Rally1 on a spaceframe was scaled to work and a WRC27 Puma would work too. I think this will happen in due course.
The next generation Fiesta for Europe will be full electric :rolleyes:
I wonder with the recent changes to the EU transition to EV’s, which will likely get kicked into the long grass again and again, if they will come up with an ICE version as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom206wrc
Yes and basically with a Renault EV platform, so wont ever be an ICE version.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom206wrc
But the Puma is still available with a (hybrid) ICE & with the EU cancelling the 2035 ban it could be around for years yet.
Having no support for more than 10 years and no proper car in brands portfolio is a only logical to be open minded for other opportunities and not still hoping that someday they'll be back somehow.
Don't get me wrong, if M-Sport wouldn't be in that sport and if they wouldn't continue with their dedication, I believe WRC would probably already die long ago. They were always there, when all others left. But as I said already before, how long will they making Ford free promotion, before they will said, enough is enough. That's why I want them to succeed, no matter which car or brand they will represent, as long as they will have proper support and not just the badge and few "donated cars", oh right and access to some simulations.
Gerard Quinn, the former Ford Senior Manager and of Ford Racing Europe, always says Ford's support for the Rally1 programme is considerable.
It seems that M-Sport (& sponsors) mostly pays out to run the cars and any driver salaries.
1 more year, and then it's up to Ford to back the Rally2 entry if there's already Toyota, Prospeed and Lancia; plus others.Quote:
Originally Posted by deephouse
Ford should certainly be able to afford part of the cost of developing a WRC27-spec car with M-Sport.
The new Cars are considerably cheaper than the Rally1 and sales should be good to privateers. It would be a win-win keeping both at the top level of WRC.
If M-Sport and Ford continue,it will probably be with a spaceframe made to look like the 2028 Fiesta. And it will more than likely debut in 2028 too. They either use the current Fiesta Rally 2 for 2027 or take a sabbatical.
I have to agree with Quinn for once, twice actually. Ford do give support, it's not entirely freebie like deephouse jokes, but that's only for now. The other is that manufacturers have no use for WRC.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC
They're also losing money left right and centre: https://www.ft.com/content/93e352c0-...d-a86e4d2aeb47
$19.5bn lost to u-turning on EVs, "their share of the US car market could fall from about 10-12 per cent to 5 per cent." "a $3bn writedown to end its battery joint venture with South Korea’s SK On" "The company’s electric vehicle division, Ford e, recorded a $5.1bn loss in 2024 and lost $3.6bn in the first three quarters of 2025."
“We’re in the fight for our lives and our industry” - They aren't pumping money into M-Sport's profits.
Of course Ford is having a bad time financially, but their support of M-Sport is a drop in the ocean. Plus they get good advertising value from it.
Ditto for supporting the building of a WRC27 car. If private tuners can afford it, Ford & M-Sport can.
Jon Armstrong shows the full ladder of opportunity with M-Sport, from a Fiesta ST in 2012 to the Puma Rally1 in 2026...
https://www.facebook.com/10004548268...40aB7S9Ucbxw6v
Podcast featuring Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong on adapting to the Rally1 Car, including the aero and Hankook tyres...
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kQ...JUHrCNg&t=1356
Tomorrow M-Sport will reveal the 2026 Puma livery
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTdhH07DHAm/
White car with some green? Am I seeing this right?
Castrol? Oh They tagged DirtFish... ?
Irish Green?
Almost. No RB. At all. Only relation to Ford - design of the car and the oval logo in front.Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
But i have to admit - this design looks very good. Refreshing.
P.s. last year there was a big Ford logo on the front grill - this year it is SC.
M-Sport relations with Ford are very strange from outside - they are running Ford Racing operations in Dakar, building those works and customer Raptors, but at the same time their core program is distanced from Ford as much as it could be and struggling.
Agree! Refreshing indeed. M-Sport did the job again.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndersX
Banger as always. I like that both M-Sport and Toyota go with retro-inspired livery (the upper part of GR livery is throwback to #29 Toyota GT-One).
Hyundai is meh as always.
M-Sport smashed it again ! :bounce:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G-ngAEUX...pg&name=medium
Hyundai livery only will be revealed tomorrow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenneth
Yeah thanks, I thought it was already confirmed they'll keep the same livery.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Oliveira
Hyundai have been trolling people on their Instagram page so my winner already!
Shows how times have changed as I used to anticipate which factory or factory supported teams would be planning a WRC season rather than what colours the 2.5 teams would be running but whatever floats your boat.
People can't now anticipate liveries? Okay, I'm sorry, I'll stop doing that, mr gatekeeper
theres probably some video coming out soon but Verstappen tested the Msport (WRC car? Not a Rally1?) - tho not on a rally stage https://youtube.com/shorts/G8Z297Yns...430zJjU9yTYGv6
he also tested a v8sc in bathurst or something like that
Not a bad livery, but in my opinion Motorsport Ireland cars looked better in the past:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_M...Nr._32_(4).jpg
2022 looked best!
https://scontent-waw2-2.xx.fbcdn.net...6g&oe=696D90BD