For Mārtiņš Sesks, Rally Chile was a last chance to show what he can do behind the wheel. Now the really hard work is under way to try to secure his future in the World Rally Championship.
The Latvian visited the Central European Rally service park last week to continue talks with M-Sport about a potential 2025 drive.
His impressive debut performances in a Ford Puma Rally1 in Poland and Latvia, plus the bonus trip to South America last month, were made possible by sponsorship from his homeland as well as backing from WRC Promoter.
And even though Sesks has demonstrated that he can compete at the top level, it’s clear that bringing additional budget to the table will help his chances of a seat at M-Sport.
“He’s come here purely to see us and ask what the situation is, which is the same that everyone’s been looking for,” team principal Rich Millener told DirtFish at CER.
After strong showings on his three Rally1 outings, Sesks will be hoping there is an M-Sport contract for him to sign
And what was the answer he could give Sesks?
“You know what M-Sport is like, you know M-Sport needs some budget to make things happen. Have a think about if you can find anything, if you can do anything.
“Of course you’re on the shortlist of people we would love to speak to and work with in the future, regardless of who’s in the team. Even if it’s Rally2 or Rally1, who knows?”
Millener’s words match with what M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson said about Sesks before Chile – and the point that any questions about his future are linked to the bigger one of the team’s.
“What he showed this year is [something to which] we would never say, ‘Right, thank you very much, off you go,’” Millener added. “But I can’t tell him what we’re doing, and until he tells me what he can find available, then we can’t kind of fit it together.
“So it was purely just an opportunity for him to come here, see us, and have that chat.”
