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maggio 24, 2021 - Msport

Big speed, big learning from M-Sport’s young guns in Portugal

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M-Sport Ford World #rally Team young stars #gusgreensmith and #adrienfourmaux have begun #rallydeportugal full of pace and promise with both taking their turn to set impressive stage times in their EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRCs.
 
At the completion of Friday's first leg, held in mainly dry and warm conditions, Greensmith is in seventh position overall with Fourmaux one spot behind in eighth after more than 120 kilometres of competitive running on challenging gravel roads in central #portugal.
 
But those placings don't paint the full picture of another encouraging performance in the FIA World #rally Championship by two members of M-Sport's roster of rising talent.
 
Co-driven by Chris Patterson, Greensmith, 24, was rapid out of the blocks, setting the joint third-fastest time on SS1. And it got better for the Briton on SS4 when he went second fastest against vastly more experienced opposition to demonstrate the competitive nature of the EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC – and his continued emergence.
 
After a damaged left-rear tyre on SS3 cost him nearly 50s, he hit back in the afternoon with the third quickest run through the single-use SS7 to move into seventh place, a little more than 60s off the lead.
 
Edging out team-mate Fourmaux on the day-closing, head-to-head superspecial at the Lousada rallycross track with the third fastest time, Greensmith reached the overnight halt it Matosinhos, just north of Porto, firmly on course for more WRC points.
 
On a mission to maximise his learning on his first #event on gravel in a World #rally Car, Fourmaux underlined his potential by going fourth fastest through SS3. Relishing his gilt-edged opportunity, the WRC2 graduate delivered a succession of consistent stage performances and would have gone even faster on SS6 had it not been for a brief stall.   
 
With Renaud Jamoul co-driving, the 26-year-old started SS7 in seventh position, only for a spin and a damaged right-rear tyre to cost him vital time. Although he fell to eighth as a result, Fourmaux's progress has been much in evidence on his #rallydeportugal debut.
 
Teemu Suninen is firmly in the fight for victory in WRC2. Co-driven by Mikko Markkula, the 27-year-old is 9.8s off the category lead after eight stages in his EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta Rally2. Rarely outside the top three WRC2 stage times, Suninen was delayed by almost 10s on SS4 in hanging dust thrown up by a rival driver's car.  
 
Making his second start in WRC2 since he stepped up as the FIA Junior WRC Champion, #tomkristensson was adapting to faster and more technologically advanced Rally2 machinery when he went off the road on SS4. The #rallydeportugal rookie, 30, and co-driver David Arhusiander are expected to restart day two, however.

Further information in the press release to download