New engine for M-Sport Ford pair in Croatia

The British-based team had intended to introduce the new engine midway through last season, but decided to hold it until this year when the Coronavirus pandemic impacted on the 2020 calendar and altered some of the engine paired events.

But now, everything is ready for M-Sport to reveal its fastest ever Fiesta WRC at the Zagreb-based asphalt fixture, round three of the FIA World Rally Championship.

M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson wouldn’t reveal the engine’s magic numbers, but talked through some of the changes.

He said: “The work has focused mainly on the fuel injection system and on the cylinder head. There’s more power there, more at the top end, but I’m certainly not going to start talking numbers with you. Put it this way, the drivers are very happy.”

While the new engine specification hasn’t been seen in competition yet, the drivers are familiar with it from pre-event testing after it was used in preparations for this year’s Rallye Monte-Carlo and Arctic Rally Finland Powered by CapitalBox.

M-Sport regular Teemu Suninen said: “It feels good, you can feel the difference with the power – it was nice to have this in the test, but it will be really nice to have it in the rally.”

The Finn will have to wait a while to get his hands on the new engine in competition, with Red Bull-backed Frenchman Fourmaux taking his place in the team for Croatia for his top-level debut. Suninen and Fourmaux will share a factory Fiesta WRC this year.