M-Sport engineers are attempting to find a solution to the overheating problem that slowed the team’s three Fiesta World Rally Cars on the opening stage of the Monte Carlo Rally.
Teemu Suninen, Esapekka Lappi and Gus Greensmith are down in seventh, eighth and 10th respectively following SS1.
All three were slowed by high water temperatures, with television images suggesting the Fiestas had all scooped large amounts of leaves into their grilles.
The drivers declined to discuss the issue at the stage end, M-Sport has confirmed to DirtFish that the problem was the leaves causing overheating.
They are now investigating whether anything can be done to prevent a repeat on SS2, which gets under way shortly.
M-Sport’s lead runner Suninen lost 17 seconds to rally leader Sébastien Ogier on the opening stage.
