Mārtiņš Sesks has been handed another World Rally Championship chance with an entry into next month’s Rally Chile (September 26-29).
The Latvian made a sensational debut on Rally Poland earlier this year in a non-hybrid Ford Puma Rally1, and was even better on his home event with a full hybrid version as he won his first WRC stage and was on-track for a podium, only for a mechanical issue to rob him on the final stage.
Supported by WRC Promoter, Sesks now has another opportunity to impress as he’ll once again partner Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster at M-Sport Ford, driving a non-hybrid Puma Rally1 like he did in Poland.
It will be a significant test of Sesks’ potential, as unlike Poland and Latvia the 24-year-old has never contested Rally Chile before.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to drive a Rally1 car again, just two months after our previous rally,” Sesks said.
“It’s been an incredible adventure so far, and the experience of driving keeps getting better. Competing in Chile in a Rally1 car is truly amazing, so I’d like to give a big thank you to the WRC Promoter and M-Sport for their support and cooperation.
“Of course, it will be quite a challenge, especially starting with a non-hybrid Rally1 car in a rally like this, on slower gravel and at high altitude, which is tough on both the car and the driver. It will be demanding, but we love challenges.
Sesks stunned on the WRC's Polish and Latvian rounds - but he had good experience of the roads
“Once again, we’ll be the underdogs, driving a rally we don’t know with a non-hybrid car. But I believe we are ready, and everyone is motivated to give our best performance, taking on another great adventure this year with M-Sport. We’re looking forward to it.”
WRC Promoter’s senior director of sport, Peter Thul, said the promoter is “thrilled” to see Sesks return and it’s “proud to continue supporting such a promising young talent”.
“Mārtiņš has already shown remarkable speed and determination in Poland and Latvia, and we believe his future in the WRC is exceptionally bright,” Thul continued.
“Supporting the next generation is crucial for the continued growth and excitement of the WRC, and our commitment to nurturing young talent remains stronger than ever.”
M-Sport team principal Richard Millener added: “Mārtiņš made a strong impression in his previous two events with us, so it’s a pleasure to welcome him back to the team in Chile.
“This will undoubtedly be a challenging event, completely different from the previous ones. With no prior experience on this tricky rally, it’s no easy task, but it’s a great opportunity for him to showcase his versatility and further establish himself as a future talent.
“We hope this experience will bolster his ambition to become a regular name in the Rally1 class.”
