M-Sport is hopeful the robust debut of its non-hybrid model of its Ford Puma World Rally Championship automobile will assist stimulate its Rally1 automobile gross sales.
The Ford squad took benefit of a brand new FIA regulation launched this yr that enables groups to enter non-hybrid powered Rally1 automobiles in WRC occasions by fielding rising star Martins Sesks in Poland earlier this month.
With out the hybrid, the automobile produced 130 fewer horsepower and needed to carry 100 kilograms of ballast to be situated in tempo of the hybrid unit and its related gear within the automobile.
The concept behind the FIA’s regulation tweak was to supply a less expensive Rally1 possibility at €150,000 lower than the €800,000 hybrid model and supply a Rally1 platform to assist youthful drivers bridge the hole from Rally2 to Rally1.
Its maiden outing in Poland, supported by the WRC Promoter, resulted in a formidable drive from 2023 European Rally Championship Sesks, who completed fifth total and got here inside 0.3s of claiming a stage win.
Whereas the undertaking’s most important focus was to supply a younger driver the expertise of Rally1, M-Sport workforce principal Richard Millener says the rally put the automobile within the store window for potential consumers.
Martins Sesks, Renars Francis, M-Sport Ford World Rally Crew Ford Puma Rally1
Photograph by: Tomasz Kaliński
M-Sport bases a core a part of its enterprise on constructing and promoting rally automobiles however has offered just one Puma Rally1 since its introduction in 2022.
“I hope [we can sell some more cars]. That was additionally a part of the purpose to showcase it and present that you would be able to nonetheless come right here and have enjoyable and be in amongst the highest guys and extra importantly a great distance forward of Rally2,” Millener advised Motorsport.com.
“We needed to show it will probably do this and nonetheless be aggressive and it can provide this chance to kids to return and show what they will do.
“Individuals had been saying in the event you simply take away the hybrid, it’s a Rally2 automobile however in the event you had watched Martins in a Rally2 automobile he would by no means have had the identical feeling or suggestions. These Rally1 automobiles are wonderful to look at and that’s the reason I at all times say that we will’t do away with them. We should have a high class in WRC and one thing like this to showcase what that is about.”
Sesks’ tempo throughout Poland’s high-speed gravel levels raised questions surrounding the need of the hybrid items in Rally1 automobiles transferring ahead, however Millener feels this outing masked the hybrid’s true efficiency.
“It will be a really totally different dialog if we had been at a unique rally,” he added.
“We all know on the quick rallies it [the hybrid] is much less advantageous, however you possibly can nonetheless see that Martins was on the sting in all places and possibly the bits he was lacking out on had been the bits the place folks had been utilizing the hybrid.
“It undoubtedly goes to indicate the hybrid remains to be a requirement to win however he did a incredible job with out it.”
Sesks will pilot a full hybrid model of the Puma when the WRC visits Latvia subsequent week, which marks the ultimate spherical of his two-rally programme.
