The meteoric appearance of Adrien Fourmaux in M-Sport has diminished the prominence of the rest of the drivers in the British formation, including a Gus Greensmith who competes in each rally with the first of the Ford Fiesta WRCs. A scenario in which the importance of Teemu Suninen has plummeted, both in the plans for this season and in the development tests of the future Ford Puma Rally1. Relegated to competing in the WRC2 category in three of the last five rallies, Teemu Suninen has decided to leave M-Sport immediately and continue his career away from the Cumbrian coach’s umbrella.
Teemu Suninen explained that he did not feel relevant within the M-Sport project. Despite competing in seven of the eight rallies held this year, five of them at the wheel of the Ford Fiesta WRC, the driver Suomi considers that he has been left out of the premier class in rallies that in theory was going to compete with the second World Rally Car of the team. A situation that occurred in the past Ypres Rally, without Suninen also achieving a good result in WRC2. For this reason, Teemu Suninen is leaving the team and Adrien Fourmaux will drive the second Ford Fiesta WRC in the remaining rounds of the 2021 season.
In the statement from the agency that manages Teemu Suninen’s career, it can be read: “Teemu Suninen ceases his collaboration with M-Sport after an in-depth analysis of his situation. Suninen has decided to end his collaboration with the team, decision which has been communicated to M-Sport and accepted by the structure. The decision takes effect immediately, so Teemu’s last rally with M-Sport was the Ypres Rally. We thank M-Sport for the five years we spent together But nothing is forever. We have decided that it is time to face new challenges in the future. “