M-Sport will seek victory at Rally de Portugal with a very talented line-up and a deployment so far not seen in any of the manufacturers that compete in the premier class of the WRC. In fact, the Cumbrian preparer will have five cars on the stages in the neighboring country, five Ford Puma Rally1s that will be in the hands of Craig Breen, Gus Greensmith, Adrien Fourmaux, Pierre-Louis Loubet, and Sébastien Loeb. A solid bet to seek victory in the complex sections of a test that has a massive presence of the public.
Craig Breen wants to curdle a good performance: «I really want Portugal. It is a rally that I have not done in several years, I think since 2018. After the first rallies of the season, all unique in some way, Portugal represents a good thermometer to know the pace of our Ford Puma Rally1. We had a good test, I felt comfortable with the car and we did a good job.. I would like to have a little more speed than what we showed in Croatia. We have all worked as hard as we can to improve as much as possible.».
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Gus Greensmith will look for his first podium in the WRC in Portugal: «I really want to be in Portugal. It is without a doubt my favorite rally, apart from the first rally I did outside my country.. I have many fond memories of this event as I have competed here six times. TI have a lot of experience in this test and it is something that we must take advantage of. I feel like I’m in the right place at the right time with the car, my co-driver and everything else. There is no pressure because I am not going to score points for the team, but I want to get a good result.».
Adrien Fourmaux arrives in Portugal in a compromised situation: «This will be my second time in Portugal. I had a very good feeling last year with the World Rally Carso I’m really looking forward to getting in the Ford Puma Rally1 and seeing how it goes. It is a very nice event in which the spectators are very hot and the atmosphere is fantastic. We look forward to the upcoming ground events. We are excited to compete in Portugal. We hope to achieve a good result for the team after a difficult start to the season».
Pierre-Louis Loubet he disputes his second rally within his partial program: «Portugal has always been my favorite rally in the past, not least because I’ve gotten some of my best results there. It was my first event in the WRC, when I was only 18 years old. That’s why I’m excited to compete there and hope to have a strong second event on our partial schedule. We were happy with our pace in Croatia but no luck. We hope that with the same pace and without punctures, we can have a good result in Portugal.”
By last, sebastien loeb He returns after winning the Monte Carlo Rally to compete in Portugal: «The first feeling with the Ford Puma Rally 1 on gravel in our test was quite good. A single day of testing isn’t much when it’s your first time driving a new car on gravel., but in the end I ended up happy with the sensations I got. The challenges of the Rally de Portugal will be my starting position, I am fourth on the first day. This is a challenge if it is dry because there is a lot of cleanliness factor. We must have a good first day and then see where we are».
Photos: M Sport