TURKEY - Tackling the roughest event of the year at this weekend’s Rally Turkey, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRCs are line astern – progressing to sixth, seventh and eighth places respectively.
 
Leading the Fiesta charge, Teemu Suninen and Jarmo Lehtinen found a good balance between speed and consistency. Improving their pace throughout the day, the Finns got closer to the leading times and are just 16.2 seconds away from Suninen’s third consecutive top-five finish at what is arguably the most challenging event of the year.
 
Having not completed a pre-event test, Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm were discovering the characteristics of the top-specification Fiesta on rough gravel for the first time. Trying a number of different setups, the pairing hold seventh place and got into their groove through the closing speed tests – setting a number of encouraging times including the fourth fastest time through the second pass of Kizlan (SS8).
 
Gus Greensmith and Elliott Edmondson were also experiencing the power and performance of the Fiesta WRC for the first time in Turkey, and showed good progress throughout the day. Despite struggling with the hard compound tyre through the opening loop, the Brits had the better of team mate Lappi through the second pass of Yeşilbelde (SS6) before picking up a right-rear puncture and having to nurse their Fiesta back to service.
 
Elsewhere in the WRC 2 category, Adrien Fourmaux and Renaud Jamoul had been holding a commanding lead behind the wheel of their EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta Rally2. Contesting the Turkish fixture for the very first time, the young Frenchman delivered an impressive drive before a rear-left puncture put paid to his charge on the second pass of Yeşilbelde (SS6). Losing two minutes on the stage, they then picked up a further minute’s penalty for late check-in and another puncture on the following stage – ending the day in second place, two and a half minutes adrift of the lead.

Team Principal, Richard Millener, said:
“It’s been a long and challenging day, so the fact that we have all four cars here at the end just goes to show how strong the Fiesta is across all levels of competition. Without a pre-event test there’s been an element of learning as we go, so it was really positive to see all four cars showing some good speed today.
 
“Teemu has been there or there abouts all weekend, and we saw some really encouraging times from Esapekka as he started to get to grips with the characteristics of the Fiesta on these kinds of stages. Gus also showed some great progress, and it was a shame he picked up the puncture otherwise we could have seen even more in those final kilometres.
 
“In the WRC 2 category Adrien had established a big lead with the Fiesta Rally2. It was a pretty incredible performance considering this is his first time here in Turkey and only his sixth ever gravel rally, but his charge came to an end when he picked up a puncture on the second pass of the long stage this afternoon.”
 
Teemu Suninen (6th) said: 
“I’ve been quite happy with the day. I felt like I was driving well and that our tyre management was good. We were pushing hard while still taking care of the tyres and we were able to set some good times this afternoon. But then on the last two stages we had quite a lot of dust in the car when one of the small windows on the side popped open – which was really distracting. Tomorrow the plan is to continue what we are doing and get through the day. We have some really rough stages – the roughest of the weekend I would say – so we need to keep our eyes open and make sure we get to the end with some more good times.”
 
Esapekka Lappi (7th) said: 
“It’s been really hot and challenging out there today – it’s tough on the cars, on the tyres and on the crews as well. It was tricky running so early on the road, but we tried to drive well and learn as much as we could about the car on these kinds of roads. We learnt quite a lot and things got better this afternoon, but there’s still some more to do so let’s see what we can discover tomorrow.”
 
Gus Greensmith (8th) said:
“We were making quite a few changes after each stage and on the long one this afternoon the splits were looking really strong. But unfortunately we picked up a puncture. I’m not sure where we got it, but we did, and for the last two I had a bald tyre on the rear which made things pretty interesting with some pretty big slides! I’m trying to do the best I can and it seems to be getting better with every stage. We’ve been pretty good on the rough sections, and that’s what we’ll have to contend with tomorrow so let’s see what we can do.”
 
Adrien Fourmaux (2nd WRC 2) said: 
“It’s been a really crazy day. We had a good lead, but then on the long one this afternoon [SS6] we got a puncture just two kilometres into the stage. We had to stop and change it which cost us two minutes, then on the road section we tried to cool the car and it wouldn’t restart. We worked really hard with the team and managed to get it going again, but we were late to the next stage and lost another minute with penalties. Then on that stage, we had another puncture! It’s a big shame as I think we were driving well and really showing what we and the car can do here this weekend – but this is rally and anything can happen on an event like this. Tomorrow we have some more really rough stages, so let’s keep focused and see what we can do.”

M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Gus Greensmith and Elliott Edmondson secured a career-best result at this weekend’s Rally Turkey, the young Brits bringing their EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC home in a creditable fifth place overall.

Known as the roughest event in the FIA World Rally Championship, the Turkish fixture demands a unique blend of speed and caution – and that’s something Greensmith mastered whilst gaining vital knowledge and experience for the future.

Third fastest through the first run of Shakedown, the young Brit had already hinted at what he might be capable of this weekend. And as others faltered, he gave the stages the respect they demand to bring home a strong top-five finish.

New to the team this year, it took some kilometres for Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferme to get to grips with the top-specification Fiesta on rough terrain. Discovering the optimum setup, the pairing got quicker as the weekend wore on and set some positive splits through today’s closing kilometres.

On par with the leaders through both passes of Çetibeli (SS9 / SS11), the Finn was on course for another good result – only to pick up a puncture through both stages. A damaged damper then prevented the Finns from mounting a challenge through the Power Stage, and they ended the event in sixth place overall.

Having delivered a solid performance throughout the weekend, Teemu Suninen and Jarmo Lehtinen had their sights on another top finish this weekend – and as the final-day drama unfolded a second podium of the year was a real possibility.

Unfortunately, the young Finn would also suffer at the hands of the Çetibeli stage (SS9). Despite having the better of his rival, Suninen suffered a broken rear-left damper which forced him into an underserved retirement.

Elsewhere in the support series, the Ford Fiesta Rally2 was proving its strength, and that strength was giving the Fiesta drivers confidence through the rock-strewn stages – Adrien Fourmaux and reigning FIA Junior WRC Champion Jan Solans half a minute quicker than anyone else on today’s opening speed test.

Fourmaux posted another fastest time through the second pass of Çetibeli (SS11) to take his WRC 2 tally to six out of 12, and secured second place in both the WRC 2 category and RC2 class – ruing yesterday’s puncture and penalty which cost him what would have been a commanding victory.

Team Principal, Richard Millener, said:
“We can’t help but feel a little disappointed after this one. The chain of events after Teemu retired meant that we would have probably been in second place which would have been fantastic. But of course these things happen, and we just need to accept that this wasn’t our weekend.

“We don’t want to make excuses, but obviously it is difficult when you don’t test for these events and Turkey is completely different to what we experienced in Estonia. That puts us on the back foot, and it took Esapekka and Gus a while to get to grips with the setup this weekend.

“But that’s the position we’re in. We cannot change it, but one thing is for sure – we will continue to always give 100 percent; and there were some positives today. Esapekka was setting some really good splits on par with the leaders before he picked up his punctures on the long stage, and Gus delivered a really mature drive to secure his best ever result.

“In the WRC 2 category, Adrien also delivered a really impressive drive on his first outing here in Turkey. It was a really strong performance from him – showcasing the strength and power of the Fiesta Rally2. In fact were it not for yesterday’s time loss he would have delivered a commanding victory, and I don’t think that first win is too far away!”

Gus Greensmith (5th) said:
“I’m pretty pleased at the end of this one and happy with how our weekend panned out. That long stage today was so rough, and considering where we were I decided that caution was the better act of valour. That turned out to be the right decision – it worked out, and we come away from this weekend with our best ever result.

“I was hoping that we would be able to transfer our Shakedown pace to the rally, but without a pre-event test that proved difficult and we still made a lot of improvements over the course of the weekend – so a big thanks to the team for that. And I think I’ve also made an improvement inside the car. Whereas I might have just sent it once upon a time, I’m now focused on being mistake-free and getting the mileage under my belt – and the confidence will come with that.”

Esapekka Lappi (6th) said:
"It’s always a challenge coming here, but I think you also need a little bit of luck and that wasn’t really on our side today. That long stage is the roughest of the weekend and we got a puncture on both passes through there. The first one was quite early on so we had to stop and change, and the second was about five kilometres from the end.

“It was a shame because the times on both passes of that stage were actually looking pretty good. We’d made quite a few changes throughout the weekend, and it looked as though everything was starting to come together. So hopefully that’s all good information that we can take forward to Sardinia in two weeks times.”

Teemu Suninen (DNF) said:
“It’s really disappointing how we had to end the day as I think we could have achieved another good result this weekend. I would say that we were quite unlucky. There were so many big rocks on the stage and so many people having problems – unfortunately for us, our problem was quite a big one as the damper was completely broken and it meant that we couldn’t continue.

“It’s a shame because I think we were driving well and the time looked pretty okay too. We’ve still learnt a lot this weekend, and it’s all good practice for Sardinia where we’ll try again to close the gap and bring home a good result for the team.

“And there was some good news from today as we found out that my engineer Callum has become a father for the very first time – so I would like to say a big congratulations to him and his girlfriend.”

Adrien Fourmaux (2nd WRC 2) said:
“I’m quite satisfied with our performance this weekend as it was a big challenge on our first time here. Obviously it’s disappointing about the puncture and the time loss yesterday because we had the performance to secure the win here this weekend. But that’s rallying, and we know we showed good pace and proved the potential of the car. Big thanks to the team as always, and let’s try again for the top spot in Sardinia!”