M-Sport WRC 2 driver Adrien Fourmaux has claimed his first ever overall rally victory on the Malcolm Wilson Rally, the second round of the 2020 BTRDA series in England.
Fourmaux entered the event as an opportunity to test for the next WRC round of his campaign in Portugal in late May.
The Malcolm Wilson Rally – named after M-Sport’s managing director and fonder – was chosen as it’s based in Cockermouth and pre-event documentation was held at M-Sport’s HQ.
Driving a Ford Fiesta R5 Mk2, Fourmaux won all but one of the rally’s seven stages to record a 1m14s victory over Ford Fiesta WRC driver Stephen Petch on the Frenchman’s first ever rally in England.
“I’m really happy to have won the Malcolm Wilson Rally, especially because it’s Malcolm’s rally,” Fourmaux said.
“Three years ago I started my very first rally and now I’ve taken my first overall victory which is really satisfying.
“Malcolm gave me a big hug and congratulations at the end, so I think he was happy too. It really is an honour for myself and Renaud [Jamoul, co-driver].
“It was a tricky rally, but a great experience and fantastic to take the win and make Malcolm and everyone at M-Sport proud.”
Malcolm Wilson was deeply impressed by Fourmaux’s performance on just his second rally in the UK; his previous result a third place finish in WRC 2 on last year’s Wales Rally GB.
“The Malcolm Wilson Rally is obviously very close to my heart, and it was fantastic to see Adrien take the victory,” Wilson said.
“He’s a real talent for the future and it was great to showcase his skills as well as our Ford Fiesta R5 Mk2 in front of the home fans today.”
Wilson, the 1994 British Rally champion, added his congratulations to all other competitors, organisers and marshals for putting on a great event but confessed it had left him with an itch to scratch.
“Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be back out there myself!”
