Third place for Adrien Fourmaux and co-driver Alex Coria, fifth place for Grégoire Munster and co-driver Louis Louka: The season finale of the World Rally Championship ended in Japan with the fifth podium result for the Puma Hybrid Rally1 from M-Sport Ford. The eventful asphalt event around Nagoya put a worthy end to an extremely exciting year with title decisions that literally came down to the last few meters.
- Adrien Fourmaux/Alex Coria made it into the top three in the overall standings for the first time in an asphalt world championship rally with the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally 1
- Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka crowned their strong development at the wheel of the 368 kW (500 hp) Puma Hybrid Rally1 with another top 5 result
- Richard Millener, team boss of M-Sport Ford: “We always knew that the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 was also competitive on asphalt”
For Fourmaux, the 13th and final round of the 2024 World Cup began last Thursday evening with a special highlight: The Frenchman drove with a wafer-thin lead of 0.5 seconds on the first special stage (WP) in front of a sold-out crowd at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture the best time – which meant that the former medical student led a World Cup rally for the first time in his career. However, the rest of the first stage presented him with challenges on Friday on the winding streets strewn with autumn leaves. After three more special stages, Fourmaux entered the midday tire change zone in fifth place. However, minor modifications to the setup of his 368 kW (500 hp) turbo-hybrid all-wheel drive vehicle brought a significant improvement. The 29-year-old found his rhythm again and fought his way back into position. Before the last road test of the day, Fourmaux resorted to a tactical trick and installed additional headlights on his Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1. When the start of SS 7 was delayed, this proved to be an advantage on the now pitch-black forest paths: The Frenchman moved back up to third place past local hero Takamoto Katsuta.
The close duel with the Japanese and his French teammate Sébastien Ogier also defined Saturday for Fourmaux. At the stage finish he was again in fourth place, just 8.2 seconds behind his compatriot and 6.1 seconds ahead of Katsuta. When Sunday began with the great departure of leader Ott Tänak, the spearhead of M-Sport Ford moved up one place again. Fourmaux easily defended his first podium result in an asphalt rally until the finish of the 21st and final special stage – the crowning achievement of his outstanding season.
Grégoire Munster consolidates his emerging performance
Given the changing grip conditions and difficult tire decisions, Grégoire Munster and Louis Louka took a more cautious approach with the second Puma Hybrid Rally1 from M-Sport Ford on Friday of the Rally Japan. Nevertheless, they finished the first stage in sixth place overall. On Saturday, the 25-year-old benefited from the fine-tuned set-up of his turbo-hybrid all-wheel drive and started the competition with the third fastest time. Thanks to his consistent performance, he successfully defended his rank against upcoming competitors. Tänak’s retirement pushed him to fifth place overall on Sunday.
“We knew that our Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 was also competitive on asphalt – Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster clearly demonstrated this in Japan,” says Richard Millener, team boss of M-Sport Ford. “Although Adrien is initially still at the Having to work on setting up his rally car, he never let up on this fighting spirit which earned him his fifth podium result in the top class, a nice end to the season for him and his co-drivers Grégoire and Louis Louka were once again able to demonstrate their positive development since the beginning of the year and they also had a successful weekend. I am very proud of what this great team has been able to achieve since the Monte-Carlo Rally in January Season truly deserved.”
Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (F/F, Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, start number 16); Rally Japan result: 3rd place. World Championship position: 5th.
“As expected, the conditions of the Rally Japan proved to be extremely treacherous right from the start. But we were able to continually improve our performance and fight for a podium finish,” said Fourmaux. “Since Saturday morning we have had great duels with Takamoto Katsuta and Sébastien Ogier. It’s really nice to be able to end the season with another podium result – my first in an asphalt rally with the Ford Puma Hybrid. We can celebrate our comeback on “We can look back on a strong year behind the wheel of a Rally1 vehicle. Thanks to M-Sport. Everyone did a great job, Alex and I really appreciated it.”
Grégoire Munster / Louis Louka (B/B, Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, start number 13). Rally Japan result: 5th place. World Championship position: 8th.
“Two top 5 results in a row: I’m very happy about that. We’re ending the current season on a positive note. Thanks to the team for their hard work throughout the year and the help I’ve received as a driver and in terms of performance benefited greatly,” said Munster. “On Saturday we were running quickly with third and fifth fastest times. Here and there we had to struggle a bit with the car’s set-up, but we were able to react well and find solutions – and I also had a lot to say about the cooperation with the engineers. learned a lot again.”