First non-hybrid Rally1 car to join WRC
Updated: Monday 22nd April. The first non-hybrid Rally1 car will take part in the WRC as part of a two-round deal for Latvian ERC runner-up Mārtiņš Sesks. The three-time ERC rally winner will drive a non-hybrid Ford Puma Rally1 in Rally Poland and a full hybrid car in his home event in Latvia.
The move has been funded by a collaboration between M-Sport, which runs the Ford Puma effort, and WRC Promoter, which runs the WRC. Sesks has experience on both the rallies, winning them as part of the European Rally Championship last year on his way to second in the championship.
The use of a non-hybrid car is allowed in the WRC after a tweak to the rules for 2024. While the spec hybrid system will not be fitted to Sesks’ Puma, it will have to carry extra ballast to compensate for the reduced weight.
Commenting on the move, WRC Promoter’s Senior Director of Sport, Peter Thul said: “We identified the need to put more resources into supporting the next generation of potential WRC world champions and assisting them in making the challenging step from the support categories to our sport’s highest echelon.
“Martins' performances in the past two seasons of the ERC have deemed him a worthy recipient of this support. He has demonstrated a winning edge in Latvia and Poland and we believe that with time, he will become a regular face in the WRC.”