M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux has driven a rock-solid Monte Carlo Rally so far.
He sits fifth on Saturday night without putting a wheel out of place – not something many of those around him, including 2019 world champion Ott Tänak and the highly experienced Andreas Mikkelsen, can lay claim to.
Fourmaux’s approach, thus far, has been simple.
“I don’t take so much risk,” he told DirtFish. “I just wanted to drive quite fast on the clean sections of the stages, and then when it was really dirty I was slowing down a lot.”
The plan has come together and so long as he reaches the Monaco finish on Sunday, at least eight championship points are his. The Frenchman’s season will be up and running nicely.
Saturday points are not as safe as houses – they need to be backed up with a Sunday finish
Is that enough? Or does he want to gamble?
This being the Monte Carlo Rally, there’s one last game to play. And the prize is an alluring one with as many as 12 points available across Sunday’s three stages. Not bad for a morning’s work.
A Sunday push offers Fourmaux a chance to show the world what he’s really capable of when the gloves are off and the fight it on. But a single mistake could cost him everything he’s worked so hard to gain over the last three days, let alone 12 months.
“I need to speak with Richard [Millener, team principal] and Malcolm [Wilson, M-Sport managing director],” confirmed the M-Sport driver. “I don’t know [if I will push for big points on Sunday]. It depends. If we can we will try, but we need to see what they want also.”
Please sir, I want some more points, sir
What was the Millener response?
“We’ve talked about this one tonight,” said the Englishman. “Adrien can increase his pace if he wishes, but it’s also clear, under no circumstances, do we want him to undo the great work he’s done through Thursday and Friday.
“Through some pretty tricky conditions, he’s built his confidence and experience which is great. If he can do that and push for some Sunday points, then OK.”
So the Frenchman has the green light. Sort of. To do that, he’ll need full confidence in the car underneath him. It’s in the post.
He added: “It will take a little more time than [this rally], but [at least] we have some direction. I already know what I will change for tomorrow.”
