The result may show that Andreas Mikkelsen and the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 topped the Rally2 class on last week’s Rally Italy Sardinia, but the stage times suggest something different.
After 18 of the event’s 19 stages, Adrien Fourmaux and the Ford Fiesta Rally2 were king.
Ultimately a small mistake on the powerstage would deny Fourmaux his first ever WRC2 win and M-Sport its first in the category since Jari Huttunen conquered the Monza Rally 18 months earlier.
But a point was made.
After a difficult start to the season where Fourmaux finished close to two minutes down on Yohan Rossel’s Monte Carlo Rally-winning Citroën, the Frenchman and his Fiesta were firmly setting the pace.
It backed up impressive performances in México, Croatia and Portugal, but was the most compelling case yet that the Fiesta Rally2 – fresh from its aerodynamic revision last year and new differential this spring – is back in the game.
Fourmaux showcasing the car’s potential in both the World and British Rally Championships (he’s dominated both of the opening two rounds of the UK’s national series) is one thing, but M-Sport team principal Richard Millener knows it’ll ultimately count for little if that doesn’t translate into sales.
“Yeah, that’s our goal now,” Millener told DirtFish, “to make sure the performance is reflective in more car sales.”
Essentially, M-Sport is looking to cash in on the old adage of winning on Sunday and selling on Monday.
“Yeah, and people do look to WRC,” Millener added, “especially with how competitive the field is, they do look to us in that championship to see which cars are best.
“BRC, maybe, you know, BRC and smaller events, you’d be surprised how many people look at that as well.
“If it’s performing everywhere then there’s something going on.”
