29.5.2019 Cologne. After two guest, the rally-world Cup play in South America, within little more than two weeks, opens next weekend in Portugal, your European gravel season. M-Sport Ford sends three of the roughly 380-HP Fiesta WRC into the race: in addition to the factory drivers Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin and Teemu Suninen/Marko Salminen, the young Briton Gus green Smith attacks for the first time to the Wheel of a World Rally Cars, accompanied by a passenger, Elliott Edmondson.
The Team has set itself ambitious targets: In the previous year, both Evans as well as Suninen with the Turbo four-wheel drive-based vehicles in the Cologne-Niehl produced small, managed the leap onto the Podium of this classic. With a four-day Test, you have prepared already target the special conditions of Portugal’s world Cup run, with its frenetic Fans each year to the height of the points.
However, the 20 special stages (WP) have it around the rally centre in Matosinos on the Northern edge of the Atlantic metropolis of Porto: The demanding, a total of 306,97-km-long gravel slopes are characterized by a sandy and dusty surface for the first loop, in particular, the early Starter special tasks.
For the second Passage has changed her face often. Then trace shape grooves of the image, where sharp stones can hide, the costumes, the tire according to the life. The characteristics of this world Cup cycle, the many curves, the “lead the blind” over the hills boundless confidence in the announcements of the co – pilot counts for the driver, therefore, it is also a prerequisite as is, great car control and a certain amount of courage.
It starts already on Thursday evening with the start ceremony, which takes place this year in the historic city centre of Coimbra. On Friday, the WP are on the program, the dangers in this Form since 2001 – including classics such as the famous “Arganil” and “Lousa”.
A special spectacle on the night from 19.03 at again 3,36 km long spectator examination on the Rallycross circuit of Lousada. On Saturday, better known as the runs follow around the Cabreira mountains including of 37.6-Kilometer-long “Amarante”. The Sunday ends with another Highlight, the “Fafe”test as a so-called Power Stage, including the thousands of times photographed jumping hill. Here is the Start of the first vehicle is scheduled for 12.18 PM.
“For our return to Europe we have to fight again for a place on the Podium,” explained M-Sport team boss Richard Millener.
“Our rallies in Argentina and Chile were actually not so bad, but we had made more – especially if we take into account the strong results to the beginning of the season. In this early form we want to build now, and we have worked in the past few weeks, hard. While the team had after the Stress of the two South American events a couple of days to the by loops, for free, took over the testing Department with four days of test drives for the best possible preparation for the upcoming rally Portugal. We set ourselves ambitious goals. Elfyn Evans and Teemu Suninen were in the previous year, this gravel Event, both on the podium. Both have the experience and the Talent to be able to this in this season to repeat. We need to use our opportunities only. For Gus green Smith, the output looks different: He looks for his first Start in a World Rally Car, the new Generation of a particular Moment in his young career. I know how much this experience is eagerly awaiting. We look forward to welcoming him accompany them. What is important is not only that he is under a lot of pressure to succeed, because changing from an R5 car in the WRC is difficult.“
Content
- Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Ford Fiesta WRC with start number 33); world ranking: 5; rally – rally Portugal Starts: 7. Best Result: 2nd Place (2018)
- Teemu Suninen / Marko Salminen (Ford Fiesta WRC with start number 3); world ranking: 10; rally-Portugal-boot: 4. Best Result: 3rd Place (2018)
- Gus green Smith / Elliott Edmondson (Ford Fiesta WRC, # 44); world ranking: 13; rally-Portugal start: 0.
Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Ford Fiesta WRC with start number 33); world ranking: 5; rally – rally Portugal Starts: 7. Best Result: 2nd Place (2018)
After his second rank in the previous year, Elfyn Evans, will so Shine this season in the Portuguese SCHOTT fluency with a top result. Seven Times the 30-year-old Welsh at this world Cup is gone-classics at the Start – so he brings plenty of experience and also the appropriate Speed, in order to ensure, once again, for a Surprise
“The rally Portugal is one of the legends of our sport,” says Evans. “Most of the drivers have a lot of experience with this world Cup run, everyone wants to fight for a top result hard – as are we of course. The Portuguese Fans will bring a lot of enthusiasm, in front of this audience, everyone gives his Best. In the past, we were on this gravel rally is often very quick on the road.
The whole Team has engaged enormously, so that we can repeat this. Our 1.5-day Test went very well. If everything fits together, I see no reason why we should, in spite of the immensely strong competition, not very far ahead of the game.“
Teemu Suninen / Marko Salminen (Ford Fiesta WRC with start number 3); world ranking: 10; rally-Portugal-boot: 4. Best Result: 3rd Place (2018)
The memories of Teemu Suninen, the rally of Portugal are still fresh and extremely gratifying: in 2018, the top Three managed the 25-Year-old in this Event for the first time. And so, to his strong Form to the beginning of the season, the Finn is looking to build together with co-driver Marko Salminen on the upcoming weekend of course: At the rally Sweden Suninen had led for the first time a world championship race.
“In Portugal, I’m already started four Times – this means that I’m only with my home rally in Finland, more familiar,” says the Talent from Tuusula. “After the podium result of the year-on-year, we want to achieve now, of course, again a top result. I’m very optimistic that we will succeed in doing. On Friday, it will be most difficult, then a whole series of new stages are on the program, the lead on a hard surface and the tyre is very straining. Depending on how strong our front people have swept the slippery dust of the track, we need to use our Chance in the best possible way. The competition is much too large to have time to lie.“
Gus green Smith / Elliott Edmondson (Ford Fiesta WRC, # 44); world ranking: 13; rally-Portugal start: 0.
The upcoming weekend will not forget the talented Brit is certainly for a long time: Then Gus green Smith gives his debut at the wheel of a World Rally Cars of the new Generation. Together with co-driver Elliott Edmondson, he will have a lot to learn. In this case, both should not forget, however, to enjoy this special Moment in your rally career.
“The last ten years of my rally career I’ve been working on exactly this Moment – and now I feel ready for me to climb this mountain!”, green Smith is happy. “But it is not so much about me alone. An awful lot of people have worked very hard to make my debut in a modern World Rally Car. For that, I am. me in every single thank you Currently, however, I focus only on the task at hand. For us, it is important to enjoy this experience – much bigger goals I set myself at all. Only a few riders have the privilege to welcome one of these incredible cars in the competition move. No matter what happens, I’m going to have a Laugh in your face. In addition, I love Portugal and the Region of Porto and to feel almost at home. The stages are fantastic, but I am so looking forward to the country, its inhabitants and the Portuguese way of life.“
M-Sport Ford sends three Fiesta WRC at the Start of the WRC rally Portugal Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin want to fight to second place in the previous year, again a top result. Photo: M-Sport Ford
