M-Sport must keep fighting if it is to maintain its leads in both the WRC teams and drivers championships, team boss Malcolm Wilson has warned.
The British-based squad pulled clear in both title races at last weekend’s ADAC Rallye Deutschland, when Ford Fiesta drivers Ott Tänak and Sébastien Ogier claimed victory and third place respectively.
Ogier pulled 17 points clear at the head of the drivers’ standings, while a combined haul of 40 points increased M-Sport’s advantage in the teams’ championship to 64 points.
But as the end of the season approaches, Wilson warned against complacency.
“There might only be three events left, but we can’t let it slip now,” he said. “Historically, we have been in this position before and ended up losing it.”
“As we’ve seen this weekend, anything can happen so we need to keep fighting and that is exactly what we intend to do. We will try to do everything we possibly can to secure both championships.”
Wilson paid tribute to his team after Tänak’s historic victory at the WRC’s German counter.
“It’s the only rally in the championship that we hadn’t won and I genuinely didn’t think we’d be in this position at the start of the rally,” he said.
“Seb and Ott both did a fantastic job, particularly on Friday in difficult conditions. There were no real mistakes, they stayed out of trouble, I could not ask for more from these guys.
“Ott has always been quick on Tarmac – he’s always been quick everywhere – but he’s really come on this year in combination with these new cars. Sebastien too has been a big influence in the team – he’s shown Ott a real goal and a target to go for.”
