Will 2024 be a fresh start for Fiesta Rally2 in Ireland?
M-Sport’s Ford Fiesta R5 knocked up 20 Irish Tarmac event wins in the first four years following the series’ step away from World Rally Car machinery in 2016. It was the go-to car with drivers like Craig Breen, Josh Moffett, and Alastair Fisher battling it out in a Fiesta race for victories.
M-Sport has been winless in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship since 2019, although Adrien Fourmaux did win the Ulster Rally last year albeit not registered for ITRC. It is a stark contrast to the preceding years. Volkswagen Polos have stolen the show while Moffett found formidable form in his Hyundai i20 R5.
Times are changing in ITRC’s third season after its Covid-enforced break. Moffett has switched to a Citroen, Callum Devine is driving the only Polo R5 inside Galway International Rally’s top ten, and a couple of prestigious crews are campaigning Ford Fiesta Rally2s.
Multiple British Rally Championship-winning drivers, Keith Cronin and Matt Edwards, will challenge for the 2024 Irish Tarmac title in M-Sport’s revamped Fiesta Rally2.
The duo have a surplus of skill behind the wheel of a rally car and undoubtedly won’t take long getting up to speed in Galway.
One man keen to see them find success this year is M-Sport’s Team Principal, Rich Millener:
“Ireland has been one of M-Sport’s strongest markets over the past twenty years,” Millener told Rally Insight. “It is great to see some Fiestas in the hands of people that are more than capable of rally wins.
“Matt and Keith both have good history with us and I look forward to seeing what they can do.
“There have been a lot of developments made to the Ford Fiesta Rally2 over the past 18 months.
“We finished the development with a new cooling package that allows us to control the charge temperatures of the engine a lot better. This will give us a more consistent and strong response.
“It also gives us more flexibility to play around with the engine performance. We knew we had struggled there previously and this upgrade helps tie in all the other developments as well.”
Cronin, who drove a Volkswagen last year, went up against a Fiesta driven by Adrien Fourmaux in the British Rally Championship.
The French pilot claimed the coveted crown with five wins from five starts, including an impressive victory on the Ulster Rally.
It seems the ingredients for a return to M-Sport’s success in Ireland are now well in place.
“Adrien did a great job last year in the British Rally Championship,” continued Millener. “The goal was to develop him as a driver but I think we also showcased what the car is capable of.
“We also did a lot of work with Adrien in Ireland last year. We spent two days testing dampers so we feel like we are in a good position with that as well.
“We feel like we have a very strong car for Ireland and I think that is why there has been an uptake in sales this year.
“Ultimately now we want to help and support the people who are using the product themselves in their national championships.
“We feel that we have made a car capable of competing and beating the competition and hopefully, our support will see that happen in places like Galway this weekend.”
Photos by D Harrigan Images
