Fourmaux’s goal is to finish top-level debut in Croatia

Fourmaux makes his championship World Rally Car debut aboard a Fiesta in Zagreb, but he’s no stranger to success in the car, having won last year’s Rallylegend in the top-level Ford.

Team principal Richard Millener has told Fourmaux to focus on the finish of what he fears could be a complicated and tricky rally as Croatia appears in the WRC for the first time.

“The weather looks like it’s going to be interesting,” said Millener, “and I think it would probably be fair to say there could be slightly easier events for Adrien to make his debut.

“But this rally, with the changeable conditions, will give him some great experience and it’ll be interesting to see how he copes with it.

“Adrien knows what he’s got to do, he knows he’s got to run his own rally and not think about what’s going on around him. If he can stay out of trouble, not have any spins, not get the car beached on a bank, he’s probably going to come away with a good result. We want to see him at the finish.”

Fourmaux replaces Teemu Suninen in the M-Sport Ford line-up alongside Gus Greensmith. Suninen started the first two rounds in a World Rally Car but drives a Fiesta Rally2 in WRC2 this weekend.

Frenchman Fourmaux, who lies third in WRC2 after finishing second in the WRC’s premier support category at Rallye Monte-Carlo, accepts this weekend will be all about learning.

“There will be a lot to learn, but I’m really looking forward to it and will focus on gaining as much knowledge and experience as I can,” he said. “I can’t wait to get started and am looking forward to seeing where we are and how we can improve throughout the weekend.”

Fourmaux tested his Fiesta World Rally Car last weekend to dial into the Croatian roads and also found time to give a high-speed passenger ride to the country’s Olympic, World and European gold medallist rower, Martin Sinković.

Sinković, 31, (pictured below) said: “It was a lot of fun, but also a bit scary to be belted up in the passenger seat, without having any control. As a driver, I am used to hitting the brake in order to control the speed. Here, as a co-driver, I had a brake I could hit when I panicked, but all it did was turn the wipers on and off!”

• Full coverage from the Croatia Rally is available on WRC+ All Live here, including every stage broadcast as it happens as well as key interviews, features and expert analysis from the service park.