After stunning the WRC fraternity on their non-hybrid Rally1 debut in Poland and Rally1 Hybrid debut in their home event in Latvia, Mārtiņš Sesks and Renārs Francis have been handed the keys to the M-Sport non-hybrid Puma for WRC Rally Chile Bio which takes place from 26th September.
Sesks made his debut in rallying’s top level WRC machinery in Poland behind the wheel of the non-hybrid Puma starting a dream debut which saw him claim one second-fastest and multiple top-five times throughout the event, even without the additional power boost from the hybrid unit. Sesks finished the event in an incredible fifth-overall and immediately built strong global interest for his next appearance on his home event, Rally Latvia.
Upgrading to full hybrid power in Latvia, Sesks astounded fans and his fellow drivers alike, claiming not only his maiden stage win, but also a second stage win on Friday morning, and continued to fight for podium positions throughout the entire weekend.
The two incredible results allowed Sesks to find additional funding to allow for another opportunity in Rally1. Rally Chile, the last gravel round of the championship, will give the young Latvian a chance to show his speed on unfamiliar roads. Although Sesks should benefit from familiar smooth and fast sections found in Rally Chile, the South American event is still a big challenge having never competed at the event before and having to make new pacenotes from scratch. The chance to compete in the event with the Puma is a great addition for not only Rally Chile themselves, but also the WRC.
Sesks’ third opportunity to drive a Rally1 car in Chile is a testament to the continued commitment of the WRC Promoter in nurturing young talent into the top-flight category. Their ongoing support for emerging drivers has been pivotal in his breakthrough performances in Poland and Latvia, underscoring their dedication to advancing his career.
Richard Millener, Team Principal, said:
“Mārtiņš made a strong impression in his previous two events with us, so it’s a pleasure to welcome him back to the team in Chile. This will undoubtedly be a challenging event, completely different from the previous ones. With no prior experience on this tricky rally, it’s no easy task, but it’s a great opportunity for him to showcase his versatility and further establish himself as a future talent. We hope this experience will bolster his ambition to become a regular name in the Rally1 class.”
Malcolm Wilson OBE, M-Sport Managing Director, said:
“It’s fantastic to be working with Mārtiņš again. His performances in Poland and Latvia impressed a lot of people and I’m very proud that M-Sport can offer him another opportunity to develop his skills in Rally1 machinery.”
“We’ve done a lot over the years to support upcoming drivers, and I think Mārtiņš has shown he can be part of this next generation of top-level drivers.”
Mārtiņš Sesks said:
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to drive a Rally1 car again, just two months after our previous rally. It’s been an incredible adventure so far, and the experience of driving keeps getting better. Competing in Chile in a Rally1 car is truly amazing, so I’d like to give a big thank you to M-Sport and the WRC Promoter for their support and cooperation.
“Of course, it will be quite a challenge, especially starting with a non-hybrid Rally1 car in a rally like this, on slower gravel and at high altitude, which is tough on both the car and the driver. It will be demanding, but we love challenges. Once again, we’ll be the underdogs, driving a rally we don’t know with a non-hybrid car. But I believe we are ready, and everyone is motivated to give our best performance, taking on another great adventure this year with M-Sport. We’re looking forward to it.”
