M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson says his “clear ambition” in the World Rally Championship is to make Adrien Fourmaux world champion – but added he’d be “disappointed” if the Frenchman wasn’t speaking to rival teams.
Forumaux has been one of the revelations of the 2024 season, returning to a Rally1 drive via a season in Rally2 as a much improved driver from the accident-prone pilot of two years ago.
Currently, Fourmaux is fifth in the world championship but just 10 points adrift of Toyota’s Elfyn Evans with four podiums from 10 starts this season.
“He’s had a great season, to be honest. He’s exceeded my expectations,” Wilson told DirtFish.
“I think what we did again [demoting him to Rally2] seemed to work, giving him the confidence. He’s matured a lot as a person. He’s doing a fantastic season, I can’t take that away from him.”
Fourmaux has surpassed everyone's expectations with his performances in 2024
Fourmaux’s future has been a source of great speculation, as he is believed to have options at M-Sport but also Hyundai for 2025.
While Fourmaux has remained tight-lipped over such talk, he did admit to DirtFish it’s “going to be a difficult decision” and that “there is discussion” about next season.
Wilson would dearly love to keep his star driver and is “pretty confident” M-Sport can keep him, but M-Sport’s own participation in the WRC next season is not yet rubber-stamped.
Asked what he could say about Fourmaux being linked with Hyundai, Wilson said: “I mean, let’s be honest, I’d be disappointed if Adrian wasn’t speaking to Hyundai and Toyota. But at the end of the day, we don’t know exactly yet what we’re doing.
“But to be honest, if we’re going to still be here, then I’m pretty confident that Adrien will still be here.”
M-Sport’s future is expected to be clearer around Rally Chile time.
Wilson is working to 100% confirm M-Sport's future WRC participation
“Unfortunately, we can’t continue like we have been,” Wilson added. “But let’s wait and see. I mean, as you know, it’s the last thing I want to do is walk away from WRC. It’s been my life.
“[Ford is] exactly like myself, they want to stay in rally. There’s a big commitment now to Dakar. There’s no question Ford is moving more to the off-road world. So, yeah, there’s definitely a desire, but at the end of the day, it’s about return on investment and that’s the big target at the moment.
“But I’ve got to be honest, my clear ambition is I want to make Adrien world champion. And I think, from my point of view, I think he’ll be ready to do that in 2026.”
Fourmaux was naturally flattered by that assessment from his boss.
“I think Malcolm’s saying to everybody that I’m going to be world champion in 2026, so it’s quite funny,” he told DirtFish.
“But anyway, it shows that Malcolm believes in myself, so I’m quite proud of it.
“And yeah, he’s given also some pressure that he wants me to do well, but I think it’s the right way anyway.”
