M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[AE1WRC]

this was better, Gardemeister was a decent driver compared to Munster and Mcerlean

Even in 2006 when Toni was driving part time in Xsara (and 307), his performance was quite good (I mean not on Gronholm and Loeb level but he was right up there in terms of pace with likes of Sordo Hirvonen and Solberg).

[AE1WRC]

we need new top drivers, not rich kids.

While we have drivers like solberg, gryazin or rossel available, we have 2 rich kids without decent track record taking the best seats.

M-sport has become a full pay to arrive and drive team, they aren't even trying anymore.

spot on !!!

[AE1WRC]

...but only until today.

It's hard to even compare Munster and McErlean with Gardemaister and Kresta. Gardemeister was a former works driver for Seat and Skoda. He had several top 5 finishes in WRC, including 3rd place in New Zealand 1999. Kresta was 2 times Czech champion and also former works driver for Skoda.
Whereas Munster and McErlean have what achievements?

But I wish them both good luck and to M-Sport Ford, too, of course.

Kresta was a tarmac specialist. However, in most of the tarmac rounds Toni was performing level with him (sometimes even better). I also get that in that season Focus 04 was stopped developing and the team was focusing on the new car for 2006 (despite this Toni had some nice podiums)

Kresta's performance throughout the whole season was the main reason I said one of the weakest lineups but since Toni performed good, I would say 2025 lineup is the weakest.

[rallyfiend]

We need new top drivers, not rich kids.

While we have drivers like solberg, gryazin or rossel available, we have 2 rich kids without decent track record taking the best seats.

M-sport has become a full pay to arrive and drive team, they aren't even trying anymore.

you do realise Solberg, Gryazin and Rossel are all manufacturer-funded drivers....?

[AE1WRC]

I hope Sesks will get few rounds in a 3rd Puma. But to grow, he'd need a nice full season in WRC2 where he can learn on asphalt and slower gravel rallies.

Exactly 100% agree. When Sesks had those two good rallies people on social media were literally calling him "the future champ" or "put him next season full time, he'll win all". I don't want to call him overrated because he has a potential (key word) to be a top-level driver but he has to perform like you said on tarmac and technical gravel rounds. We saw how he struggled in Chile (of course he had puncture but still). He also needs perform good in new events , making brand new pacenotes (see how Kalle developed himself for making new notes and performing excellent in new events.)

The latter is necessary in order to be a champion in my opinion.

[Typ85]

We need new top drivers, not rich kids.

While we have drivers like solberg, gryazin or rossel available, we have 2 rich kids without decent track record taking the best seats.

M-sport has become a full pay to arrive and drive team, they aren't even trying anymore.

We need Top drivers in the main class of World championship, no matter how they are old..
Meeke, Loeb, Paddon, Solberg, Sesks, Gryazin, Virves..
Its not good for the sport also to give seats in the main class to everyone who has money.. How does it look from a side view? Not like a world championship.
And what about Ford, do they need such an anti-advertising?
MSport was also my favorite team for years, was... Now they become just a village team of rich nobodys.. very sad.

[saco0o]

We need Top drivers in the main class of World championship, no matter how they are old..
Meeke, Loeb, Paddon, Solberg, Sesks, Gryazin, Virves..
Its not good for the sport also to give seats in the main class to everyone who has money.. How does it look from a side view? Not like a world championship.
.

Y.E.S.
i hope 27' cheaper cars can fix that for teams & privateers AND manufacturers with the open engine/car model thing too.

[Backa]

Its not good for the sport also to give seats in the main class to everyone who has money.. How does it look from a side view? Not like a world championship.

Is McErlean even that rich or is simply most promising driver among Irish ones, where funding is decent?

Motorsport was always full of rich people, nothing new here. Cheaper cars would not stop rich people of joining main class, it will just allow some less rich but talented drivers to join it too.

[saco0o]

hmmmm redbull selling the promoter, mcerlean presentation with no redbull logos (at least i havent seen on the pictures?). is redbull backing munster's car or its just serderidis putting the money? is msport that screwed without them?

[archie106]

All of the negative comments towards MSport and McErlean are really uncalled for.

There will always be some drivers with more budget than others - look at Stroll/Latifi/many others in F1 over the years. Hell, I'm pretty sure Latvala started out as a pay driver before being picked up by MSport in the WRC.

MSport have a choice between fielding drivers who bring money, or no drivers at all. I know which I would prefer. Sesks and possibly others will likely have part time programs as well depending on budget.

McErlean has shown good pace at times this year and was very close to taking a WRC2 win - he isn't a 'gentleman driver' who will just pootle round at the back, but it may take some events to build pace. I can see him getting some decent results towards the end of the year.

Edit - this post is partly directed at all the hate comments on Facebook