When Ford announced it will return to the World Rally Championship in 2028 as a factory presence – and confirmed a new car for 2029 – it was immediately linked with one driver: Adrien Fourmaux.
After two seasons with Hyundai, Fourmaux’s immediate future remains unclear: Hyundai is yet to deliver a decision on its long-term rallying future but will not field a top-level car in 2027, having opted to focus on re-homologating its i20 N Rally2 instead of building a new Rally1 machine or upgrading its current i20 via a ‘kit’ like M-Sport with its Ford Fiesta.
Toyota is currently talking with two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä to determine whether he will make a return to rallying, plus has 2019 world champion Ott Tänak on its books as the primary development driver for its new 2027 car. Project Rally One and WRT Rally1 Spain are the only other constructors of 2027-spec Rally1 cars but neither will compete full-time in 2026.
With Ford now committed to making significant manufacturer backing from 2028, a return to M-Sport – the team Fourmaux spent five seasons with prior to his Hyundai move – would appear his best option. But Fourmaux himself says he is still exploring several options.
“When you don’t have any drive for next year, you are looking into every project actually,” Fourmaux told DirtFish. “So actually, I’m just very open. I will take my time to take the decision.”
Fourmaux scored podium finish on last M-Sport Ford WRC start, at Rally Japan in 2024
Asked whether he had a self-imposed deadline on making his decision, he replied: “Monte Carlo? That’s all.”
Entries for the 2027 season opener close on Sunday, December 20.
Fourmaux wants to be competing in a top-level car again by 2028. The only teams currently confirmed to be contesting a full season in such equipment are Toyota and Ford.
“Well my target is really going back as soon as possible with a Rally1 car, that’s my target,” said Fourmaux. “I can accept one year with a slower car but I really want to go back.”
Neither M-Sport nor Ford Racing would be drawn on specific names for its works program return in 2027 during its announcement in Sardinia.
But Fourmaux is known to be well-regarded for his engineering feedback at Dovenby Hall, having shaped the development direction of the Fiesta Rally2 upgrade package that was released following his departure to Hyundai.
Fourmaux (r) has been strongly linked to reunion with Millener (l)
Team principal Richard Millener told DirtFish: “Our biggest hole at the moment is having that top-level driver that we need in order to start development of new car and to help build the team.
“Then [we would] use either mixtures of existing younger drivers or new younger drivers or someone we haven’t even thought of yet.
“The whole topic is very open. There is absolutely zero decisions made at this time.”
Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong, who competed full-time for M-Sport in its Ford Puma Rally1s this season, do not have deals beyond this season. Nor does Mārtiņš Sesks, who took on selected gravel rounds this season and piloted a Puma at last weekend’s RallyLegend event in San Marino.
Romet Jürgenson, a graduate of the FIA Rally Star talent identification program and 2024 Junior WRC champion, contested all but the final round of the 2026 season for M-Sport in a Fiesta Rally2, managing a best WRC2 result of fifth in Finland.
