M-Sport have confirmed that reigning FIA World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier will pilot the all-new Ford Fiesta WRC for the squad in 2017 alongside Ott Tänak.
Having tested the new Fiesta in Wales last month, Ogier was sufficiently impressed by the team’s latest creation and agreed terms with the Cumbrian outfit to spearhead his championship defence.
Since starting their WRC campaign in 2008, Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia have secured four world championships, 38 victories, 56 podiums and an impressive 475 stage wins – and were recently celebrated for their latest success at the glittering 2016 FIA Prize Giving Ceremony in Vienna.
Lining up alongside Ogier and Ingrassia is Tänak and new co-driver Martin Järveoja. The Estonian was crowned this year’s WRC Driver of the Year and is keen to take another step forward.
With the start of Rallye Monte-Carlo just 38 days away, the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship is setting up to be an exciting and unpredictable competition.
Sébastien Ogier said: “There will be a lot of new things this season, but I am definitely looking forward to it. We have a new generation of world rally cars, and a new team – it’s certainly an exciting time.
“There’s not long before we line-up at the start of Rallye Monte-Carlo and we’ve not had a lot of seat time with the Ford Fiesta WRC, but we’ll give it our best to be ready. We’re aware of the challenges, and I can see how hungry Malcolm and his team are for success.
“It’s funny to think that just a few months ago I was sitting at a motor sport forum at Wales Rally GB saying how nice it would be to work with him one day. I had no idea at the time that it would come quite so soon, but here we are!
“I’m looking forward to working with M-Sport, and we’ll certainly be aiming to return them to the top-step of the podium!”
M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said: “We go to Rallye Monte-Carlo with the number one on the door of the Ford Fiesta WRC and the strongest driver line-up we have had in years. To say we’re excited about next season is an understatement. We believe that we have produced an exceptional car, and we are in the best possible position ahead of this exciting new era.
“I’ve made no secret of how much we wanted to work with Sebastien and Julien, and it is fantastic to welcome them to the team. We have worked extremely hard to secure them, and they believe that the Ford Fiesta WRC is the car with which they can best defend their championship.
“With Ott and Martin lining up alongside them, we are in for one hell of a season. Ott has had a very impressive year with consistent speed. He’s played a major role in the development of the new car, and I’m sure that the elusive first victory isn’t too far away!”