Martins Sesks set for WRC Rally1 return with M-Sport

Martins Sesks will rejoin the World Rally Championship’s high tier after securing a deal to contest Rally Chile subsequent month. 

The 24-year-old Latvian made his Rally1 debut earlier this 12 months courtesy of a two-round programme funded by the WRC Promoter and his private sponsors to compete in Poland (June) and Latvia (July).

Sesks and co-driver Renars Francis turned heads in these two gravel rallies, ending fifth driving a non-hybrid-powered M-Sport Ford Puma in Poland in June. The duo then challenged for a podium on residence soil chalking up two stage wins, together with a maiden quickest time, piloting a Puma Rally1 hybrid. Nonetheless, a mechanical challenge on the ultimate stage dropped Sesks from third to seventh general.

The spectacular performances left Sesks and M-Sport eager for additional collaboration, which has now resulted in a deal for Rally Chile from 26-29 September, assisted by additional assist from the WRC Promoter.

Final 12 months’s European Rally Championship runner-up will as soon as once more pilot a non-hybrid model of the Puma in Chile, which can current an all-new set of phases for Sesks to sort out.

“We’re very grateful for the chance to drive a Rally1 automobile once more, simply two months after our earlier rally,” stated Sesks. 

“It’s been an unbelievable journey to date, and the expertise of driving retains getting higher. Competing in Chile in a Rally1 automobile is actually superb, so I might like to offer a giant thanks to the WRC Promoter and M-Sport for his or her assist and cooperation.

“After all, will probably be fairly a problem, particularly beginning with a non-hybrid Rally1 automobile in a rally like this, on slower gravel and at excessive altitude, which is hard on each the automobile and the motive force. It will likely be demanding, however we love challenges. As soon as once more, we’ll be the underdogs, driving a rally we don’t know with a non-hybrid automobile. 

“However I consider we’re prepared, and everyone seems to be motivated to offer our greatest efficiency, taking up one other nice journey this 12 months with M-Sport. We’re wanting ahead to it.”

WRC Promoter’s Senior Director of Sport Peter Thul added: “Martins has already proven exceptional pace and dedication in Poland and Latvia, and we consider his future within the WRC is exceptionally brilliant. Supporting the subsequent technology is essential for the continued progress and pleasure of the WRC, and our dedication to nurturing younger expertise stays stronger than ever.”

M-Sport have been victorious in Chile final 12 months when Ott Tanak scored the second of two wins for the Puma Rally1 hybrid in 2023. 

After exploring choices to place Sesks again in a Puma after July’s outing in Latvia, workforce principal Richard Millener is happy so as to add the motive force to the workforce’s common line-up of Adrien Fourmaux and Gregoire Munster for the journey to Chile.    

“Martins made a robust impression in his earlier two occasions with us, so it is a pleasure to welcome him again to the workforce in Chile,” stated Millener. 

“This may undoubtedly be a difficult occasion, utterly completely different from the earlier ones. With no prior expertise on this difficult rally, it is no straightforward process, nevertheless it’s a fantastic alternative for him to showcase his versatility and additional set up himself as a future expertise. 

“We hope this expertise will bolster his ambition to turn into an everyday identify within the Rally1 class.”