The British squad scaled down its WRC entry from three to 2 vehicles this season, with Gus Greensmith piloting one Fiesta, whereas the second is shared by Teemu Suninen and Adrien Fourmaux.
Nevertheless, with the introduction of latest hybrid rules for 2022, and elevated help from Ford to develop the all-new Puma, revealed at June’s Goodwood Pageant of Pace, Malcolm Wilson’s squad is planning to extend its entry to 3 full-time entries subsequent 12 months.
Three entries would allow the squad to mount a critical problem to Toyota and Hyundai for the producers’ crown – a title M-Sport final claimed in 2017 coincidently when new rules have been launched.
“That’s the goal to face probability of profitable the producer’s championship you undoubtedly should be operating three vehicles explicit with new know-how and new vehicles coming in to have that backup and help,” Wilson instructed Autosport.
“Clearly lots of it should come all the way down to finances and the place we may be and the goal is to run three.”
M-Sport’s driver line-up for 2022 is but to be secured however Wilson has revealed that French rising star Adrien Fourmaux is prone to be part of its assault subsequent 12 months.
The 26-year-old, who made his high flight WRC debut this 12 months, is very rated by the staff and has performed a major position within the growth of the brand new Puma.
Adrien Fourmaux, M-Sport Ford WRT
Picture by: M-Sport
Greensmith and Suninen’s futures stay unclear though the latter has been linked to a drive in Toyota’s third entry subsequent season, following Sebastien Ogier’s determination to step away from full-time duties in 2022.
WRC2 driver Andreas Mikkelsen, former Toyota, Citroen and M-Sport driver Esapekka Lappi and Hyundai’s Craig Breen are among the many high flight WRC drivers understood to be sniffing round for WRC drives subsequent 12 months.
“The one one that’s particular for the time being is Adrien, for positive,” stated Wilson, when requested about his staff’s driver line-up.
“In a super world if we are able to get every part pulled collectively then we want to attempt to run three vehicles, however I’m not able for the time being to say now we have undoubtedly received Adrien in place.
“The opposite ones [drivers] will fall into line within the subsequent couple of months.”
M-Sport has continued the event of its new Puma this week with a check on Finland’s excessive velocity gravel roads, as a part of its allotted 30 check days to organize its new automobile forward of the brand new season.
“We are going to use the utmost allowed by the the FIA which is one thing like 30 days, definitely on venues which might be away from the bottom,” added Wilson.
“We’re testing in Finland and now we have full check plan proper via till Monte Carlo begins mainly. We are going to attempt to encounter each form of surroundings that we’re going to face on the entire WRC season.”