Αν και απών από τον εναρκτήριο αγώνα του Moντε Κάρλο, ο Mads Østberg θα επιστρέψει στο τιμόνι ενός Ford Fiesta WRC νέας γενιάς στο Ράλλυ Σουηδίας. Ο Νορβηγός θα αγωνιστεί σε 11 από τους 13 αγώνες της χρονιάς, χάνοντας Μόντε και Μεξικό, με τις πληροφορίες να αναφέρουν πως θα βρίσκεται στην ίδια ομάδα με τον Martin Prokop που θα οδηγεί ένα δεύτερο Fiesta. Βέβαια, η ιδιωτική αυτή ομάδα θα βρίσκεται υπό την ομπρέλα της M-Sport προκειμένου οι οδηγοί της να έχουν στα χέρια τους τελευταίας γενιάς Fiesta.

M-SPORT ANNOUNCE FORD FIESTA R5 EVO2



Coinciding with the 200th Ford Fiesta R5, M-Sport are pleased to confirm a new evolution of their most successful global rally car – the Ford Fiesta R5 Evo2 – which is set to make a competitive debut later this year.

Since its inaugural launch in the midst of 2013, the EcoBoost-powered Fiesta R5 has become the most popular choice for competitors around the globe.

Having amassed 159 outright victories across 29 different countries in 2016 alone, the Fiesta has secured more individual wins than any other R5 on the market. Combining performance with unbeatable dependability, the Fiesta also boasts a class-leading reliability rating.

To celebrate the 200th Fiesta R5, M-Sport has developed a commemorative livery in a striking orange and black design. Drawing inspiration from the red and grey scheme which first adorned the Fiesta R5 at Rally Ypres in 2013, the one-off livery pays tribute to this impressive feat whilst also announcing the latest evolution.

Constantly evolving their products, M-Sport are dedicated to providing the best possible package and the latest developments add another chapter to what is already a highly successful car.

Due for release in the second quarter of 2017, the Fiesta R5 Evo2 focuses on engine enhancements with an emphasis on increased power and torque.

Changes to the cylinder head, exhaust manifold and valve train have seen performance gains throughout the rev-range which are enough to warrant the launch of a new evolution.

Continuing the collaboration with VP Racing Fuel – M-Sport’s official fuel partner for the R5 – a new VPR5 fuel will also soon be available. The new VPR5 has been refined and further developed so as to provide further gains for those who compete on 102 octane fuel in regional championships.

Further details will be revealed in the coming months and M-Sport’s sales team will be on hand at the Autosport International Show to answer any questions.

M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said:

“We’re continually developing our products. Our design team rarely rest on their laurels and are constantly looking to extract further performance from all of our products. We’re dedicated to providing our customers with the most competitive package and these recent findings certainly warranted an upgrade.

“There is no doubting that the Fiesta R5 is a great car and our most successful global rally car to date. Back in 2013, we never imagined that we would have 200 cars competing around the globe, but that just goes to show what a success it has become – a fact mirrored in some of the statistics we have seen over the past year alone.

“I fully believe that the Fiesta is one of the best R5s on the market, and we believe that this latest evolution is set to confirm that. We’ve seen some fantastic results from a whole range of championships, and we hope to continue that moving forward.”






For further information, interested parties should contact M-Sport’s Client Liaison Manager, Richard Millener, on email (rmillener@m-sport.co.uk) or by telephone (+44(0)1900 828 88).

WRC 2017: Teams fail to agree on private Volkswagen campaign


Volkswagen's future in the World Rally Championship remains in the balance after manufacturers failed to reach a conclusion in a meeting on Thursday.

Citroen, Hyundai, M-Sport and Toyota met with the FIA in Monte Carlo to discuss the potential for Volkswagen homologating its 2017-specification Polo R WRCs for this season.
Ordinarily, Volkswagen should have completed the homologation process and entered the car in the championship last month, but the German manufacturer's decision to cull its WRC effort meant the process remained incomplete.
There is now the potential for a private partner to finance the running of the car - with Andreas Mikkelsen the most likely driver - this season, but not before more details of a possible Polo programme are outlined.

FIA rally director Jarmo Mahonen told Autosport: "The meeting was positive, the atmosphere was good - people raised their concerns and they have the right to do that.
"I will discuss this with Volkswagen and then we're going to meet again."

Volkswagen required approval from all teams, and other manufacturers' concerns including testing regulations, entry fees and the pairing of components.
"We need more information," Citroen's Yves Matton said.
"It's always a good idea to have more cars in the championship, but maybe this is a short-term perspective.
"We need to be sure this brings something to the championship and not the opposite. Now it's only one line: 'to homologate the car to do some rallies.'
"We need to know who drives, what rallies, what will be their constraints compared with our constraints.
"Maybe we need to review the rules to enter the championship, but we need to do this in a proper way and not in one 30-minute meeting."

Mahonen said he could "understand these concerns", and that the debate was different to Citroen's privately-run programme with PH Sport in 2016.

"Citroen had committed to come back, but Volkswagen hasn't done this," he said.
"The manufacturers have restrictions on them in area like the gearbox through the regulations linking key parts and we have to look to make sure everybody is treated fairly - we can't have them coming all of the time with the new car."



Feeling among the teams was split, as the 2017 season started.

"Our feeling is that the championship is stronger together and if we are more teams we are even stronger," Toyota's Tommi Makinen said.
"The question is how well we can do this thing for the fans all around the world.
"We don't have anything against Volkswagen coming and competing against us. It's a question of bringing more value and more interest."

Hyundai team principal Michel Nandan, though, was not convinced.
"At the moment, as the regulation is written, it's not possible," he said.
"I have nothing against Volkswagen, but for me it's a bit strange that this big decision came and then suddenly they need to homologate the car.
"If we start to give the waiver to everybody then it can be difficult.
"I think everybody should respect the rules: if you want to homologate the car, you have to enter the championship.
"I can understand their problem, but a lot of companies have problems to make them stop motorsport - I have the same experience from before."
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.ph ... -programme

Ford considers WRC future



Sébastien Ogier's victory at Rallye Monte Carlo in a Ford Fiesta has sparked renewed interest in the WRC from the Blue Oval.

The global head of Ford Performance, Dave Pericak, was at the season opener and watched Ogier steer a Ford to victory on a WRC rally for the first time since November 2012.

After Ford’s withdrawal from the WRC at the end of 2012, its ongoing presence in the championship has been down to its former rally partner, British-based preparation firm M-Sport, with Ford providing vehicle and engineering support.

But Pericak told WRC LIVE he was excited by what he had seen at Rallye Monte-Carlo, and would make the WRC part of his future plans.

"This is my first time to attend a WRC rally and it has been amazing," Pericak said.

"We have been involved in a number of different motorsports; in GRC in America and now in WRX with Ken Block and our team there, but now I'm over here and we're going to make this part of our plan going forward.

"With an all-new car and the new rule package, what a great season this is going to be. Having Sébastien in the car is a dream come true, so this is a big deal for us, we're excited," he added.

Asked if this meant Ford might make a manufacturer-level return to the WRC, Pericak didn't rule out the possibility.

He said: "We are here having a look at it. We work with [M-Sport boss] Malcolm Wilson - he's done a magnificent job, and we're going to figure out how we continue to work with him in the future."