M-SPORT PRIMED FOR HIGH-SPEED FIGHT IN FINLAND

M-Sport Ford World Rally Team heads to the heart of rally country this week as the FIA World Rally Championship touches down in Jyväskylä for one of the calendar’s most iconic events – Secto Rally Finland.

With a returning line-up of Grégoire Munster, Josh McErlean, and Mārtiņš Sesks piloting three Ford Puma Rally1 cars, and Romet Jürgenson tackling the challenge in the Fiesta Rally2, the team is set to take on the flat-out gravel stages only one week after the championship’s previous round in Estonia.

Renowned for its lightning-fast gravel roads, blind crests, and relentless rhythm, Rally Finland is often dubbed the ‘Grand Prix on gravel’. Precision, bravery, and trust in the co-driver are essential, with small margins making a big difference across the event’s 20 stages and 307 competitive kilometres.

This year’s edition features classic stages like Ouninpohja and Päijälä, paired with some new technical tests, ensuring a demanding weekend for drivers and teams alike. Weather conditions are expected to remain stable, with dry roads and warm temperatures forecast – ideal for high-speed gravel action, but placing extra emphasis on tyre wear and car set-up.

Luxembourg driver Grégoire Munster and co-driver Louis Louka continue to build momentum in the Puma Rally1, focusing on improving pace and confidence throughout the 2025 season. After a tricky Rally1 debut in Finland last year, Munster and Louka will be utilising the set-up knowledge gained at Rally Estonia to dial in the car for maximum performance.

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy arrive in Finland prepared for the next challenge of their debut Rally1 season. McErlean, who finished seventh in the WRC2 category last year, will start his fourth Rally Finland with a solid base of knowledge on the stages and conditions. Now armed with growing experience in the Rally1 car, McErlean is eager to showcase his progression on one of the most technically demanding events of the year.

Mārtiņš Sesks is also relishing the opportunity to take on Rally Finland in top-tier machinery for the first time. The Latvian driver last competed here in 2019 as part of the Junior World Rally Championship, and alongside co-driver Renārs Francis, will draw on that experience to push for a competitive result next week.

In the WRC2 category, Romet Jürgenson continues his development programme with M-Sport in the Ford Fiesta Rally2 alongside Siim Oja. The young Estonian has already impressed with his pace and maturity, securing an impressive fifth-place finish in WRC2 on his home event in Estonia last week. Now he faces a crucial opportunity to measure himself against the very best in WRC2 on Finland’s familiar high-speed gravel.

Richard Millener, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Principal, said:

“Rally Finland is a legendary event, and while it’s always a huge challenge, it’s also an incredible opportunity for our young line-up to shine. Grégoire, Josh, and Mārtiņš have all been consistently learning throughout the season, and Finland will test every aspect of their driving. We’re looking forward to seeing how they adapt and push forward. Romet continues to impress us in the Rally2 category and has the right approach to excel here. The stages are fast, the competition is fierce, but we’re confident we can see some positive results in Finland.”

Grégoire Munster said:

“We just want to bounce back from the result we had in Estonia with some more positive progress next week. Finland is a rally I really like – the stages are fast and flowing, and Estonia was good preparation for it. Let's see how the weather turns out; it can be very variable, especially if we get some rain!”

Josh McErlean said:

“Rally Finland is an event I’ve been looking forward to ever since we got the opportunity to compete at Rally1 level. It’s a special feeling to be taking on these iconic Finnish roads in such a car. This weekend is about taking a step forward – trusting in ourselves, committing fully to the pace, and showing what we can do with this package. The key will be confidence and rhythm, and I’m ready to enjoy every moment of the ride through the forests.”

Mārtiņš Sesks said:

“It will be interesting to see how it goes in Finland. I competed here previously in JWRC six years ago, so it’s quite a new rally for me again. Rally Finland is one of the most legendary events in WRC history, and I’ve been spectating since I was a child, watching and wondering what it would be like to drive a top-level WRC car – and now we’re here! We’ll see how it goes, but I’m excited for this one.”

Romet Jürgenson said:

“I think we can go into Rally Finland with a positive mindset after a strong result in Estonia. The confidence is growing step by step, which is really important for these fast and flowing roads. What I remember from last year is that it’s an amazing rally – definitely one of the most enjoyable I’ve done – and I don’t expect anything different this time!”

Published 25 July 2025