This year’s edition of Rally Mexico is an event that the M-Sport World Rally Team will never forget.
Elfyn Evans equalled a career-best fourth while the team affected a truly phenomenal repair – getting the now legendary “TiTänak” to the end of the rally after it spent almost 10 hours submerged at the bottom of a reservoir.
M-Sport’s technicians are renowned for their expertise and never-give-up attitude, and they certainly displayed that this weekend. Recovering Ott Tänak’s Ecoboost-powered Ford Fiesta RS WRC from the water on Friday evening, they had the engine fired-up and running just two and a half hours into their service master-class.
Unfortunately, as the Fiesta sat damp in the overnight park fermé, a faulty sensor prevented the Estonian from making the opening speed test. But the team refused to give up the fight. Embarking on Rally 2.1, they were able to resurrect “TiTänak” – Tänak and co-driver Raigo Mõlder re-joining the rally for today’s final stages.
Incredibly, the Fiesta completed all three stages – including the monster 55.82 kilometres of Guanajuatito (SS19). This astonishing achievement was the result of M-Sport’s strong-willed and supremely talented mechanics, coupled with the strength and reliability of the Ford Fiesta.
This epic team effort did not go without reward. Not only did Tänak get the vital seat time required to start rebuilding his confidence, but the Estonian also collected a manufacturer point for the team’s championship campaign.
The team christened “TiTänak” with a sticker in this morning’s opening service, and the crew wittily praised the work of the team by taking to the podium wearing goggles and a snorkel. Once the car returns to M-Sport, the bonnet will be signed by all who aided this astounding repair and displayed in pride of place at M-Sport HQ.
In the sister M-Sport Fiesta RS WRC, Evans and co-driver Daniel Barritt did exactly what they came here to do. Implementing their intelligent strategy with conscientious precision, the pairing were rewarded by equalling their best ever result in the FIA World Rally Championship.
The Welshman showed true strength of character. Adopting a risk-free strategy amidst the difficult conditions, he also demonstrated his speed potential. Pushing when confident, Evans set the third fastest time through the first pass of El Chocolate (SS4) along with the fastest split at section six.
Thanks to their impressive result, Evans and Barritt have now climbed into fifth place in the drivers’ standings. They’re in the perfect place to progress and will soon be ready to showcase more of their promising speed.
