Sebastien Ogier gets new M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC for Portugal
M-Sport has built Sebastien Ogier a brand-new Ford Fiesta WRC as it ramps up its effort to keep him at the top of the World Rally Championship standings
There are no upgrades on the latest 2017 chassis to come out of M-Sport's Dovenby Hall headquarters and it will run in the same specification as the sister Fiestas of Ott Tanak and Elfyn Evans on the Rally of Portugal this weekend.
Ogier has not won since his victory on his debut for M-Sport in Monte Carlo in January, partly due to having to run first on the road on events' opening days since then, but he still holds a 16-point championship lead over Jari-Matti Latvala.
Reigning champion Ogier struggled to a distant fourth in the last round in Argentina, and M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson said the switch to a new car showed the squad's determination to stay in control of the title fight.
"A brand new car for Seb is another demonstration of our commitment to him and to the pursuit of this year's drivers' title," Wilson told Autosport.
"There's nothing different with this car, obviously there are no evolutions or anything with the 2017 car, but we just want to make sure everything is as fresh as it can be."
M-Sport has spent the fortnight since the last rally working through the issues Ogier had in Argentina.
"Seb ran a different specification of differential to Ott and Elfyn on that rally," said Wilson.
"The set-up was something he had tested and it worked for him ahead of the event.
"We only had two sets of these differentials and Seb wanted both, but it did mean he was running a different set-up to the other guys.
"Looking the tyre wear he was getting in Argentina, there was something [wrong] - he's normally so, so good on the tyres.
"We think it was a set-up thing and obviously we will have the solution for Portugal."
Ogier had a successful test ahead of Portugal and intends to extend his championship lead this week.
"We've done a lot of testing in Portugal over the past couple of months and done some further development work on the car," he said.
"That's definitely a confidence booster ahead of this rally.
"The competition is even closer this year and every team has a chance of victory.
"Opening the road on the first day will probably make it harder for us, but we come to Portugal with high objectives and a focus on increasing our championship lead once again."
Teenage rally star Kalle Rovanpera gets Red Bull backing
Proton set for WRC return in 2018 with new Iriz R5
The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends
The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends
Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies
Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
Toyota confident of rough gravel improvements for Mexico WRC round
Toyota confident of rough gravel improvements for Mexico WRC round Toyota confident of rough gravel improvements for Mexico WRC round
Ogier eyes WRC Monte Carlo rematch with Loeb
Ogier eyes WRC Monte Carlo rematch with Loeb Ogier eyes WRC Monte Carlo rematch with Loeb
Why Loeb v Ogier duel gave the WRC's new hybrid era the ideal start
Why Loeb v Ogier duel gave the WRC's new hybrid era the ideal start Why Loeb v Ogier duel gave the WRC's new hybrid era the ideal start
M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson drives WRC Rally1 Puma
M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson drives WRC Rally1 Puma M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson drives WRC Rally1 Puma
Tanak: Unexpected WRC Sweden triumph is an "emotional one"
Tanak: Unexpected WRC Sweden triumph is an "emotional one" Tanak: Unexpected WRC Sweden triumph is an "emotional one"
Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion
Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion
Marquez “completely agrees” with penalty for Oliveira Portugal MotoGP crash
Marquez “completely agrees” with penalty for Oliveira Portugal MotoGP crash Marquez “completely agrees” with penalty for Oliveira Portugal MotoGP crash
Aleix Espargaro: Marquez should have one-race ban for Oliveira Portugal MotoGP crash
Aleix Espargaro: Marquez should have one-race ban for Oliveira Portugal MotoGP crash Aleix Espargaro: Marquez should have one-race ban for Oliveira Portugal MotoGP crash
Marquez escapes Oliveira Portugal MotoGP clash with minor penalty
Marquez escapes Oliveira Portugal MotoGP clash with minor penalty Marquez escapes Oliveira Portugal MotoGP clash with minor penalty
Di Grassi "underestimated" team differences with Formula E's Gen3 car
Di Grassi "underestimated" team differences with Formula E's Gen3 car Di Grassi "underestimated" team differences with Formula E's Gen3 car
The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos
The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos
How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland
How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland
Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival
Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival
How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master
How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master
How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling
How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling
Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion
Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion
The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown
The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown
Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title
Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.