Munster: Trouble-free Croatia can launch our season

The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver struggled through the first three rounds of the year, with mistakes impacting his results in Monte Carlo, Sweden and Kenya. For round four, Munster had one aim: to bring his Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid home to the Zagreb finish without any problems. He did that, logging a seventh position in the process.

“I’m just happy we had a trouble-free event,” said the Luxembourg driver. “This can now launch our season, which didn’t start exactly how we wanted. Croatia was a very demanding event, with difficult stages where you need full commitment. So to finish the rally, we were really happy.”

Munster added that he was similarly pleased with the improvement in pace across the three days of asphalt competition earlier this month.

“The improvement in the gaps to the other crews from 1.5 seconds per kilometre on Friday to around half a second per kilometre at the end of the weekend, it’s all heading in a good direction.”

M-Sport team principal Richard Millener echoed that positivity, saying:

“Grég and Louis [Louka, co-driver] drove very well over the weekend, learning how crazy the conditions can be when you are later on the road. Their pace improved and the gap to a lot more experienced crews was declining all weekend.”

Munster will now take that confidence forwards to next month’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal, where he’s also competing for the first time in the Puma.