M-Sport and Michelin to attend Rally Legend in Oct

M-Sport and Michelin will attend Rally Legend in October with their top-specification EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC. Regarded as one of rallying’s most prestigious festivals, the San Marino ‑based event attracts an incredible entry with some of the most exciting and inspiring cars from throughout a rich and celebrated history.

Meanwhile, M-Sport are delighted to announce the M-Sport Return to Rally Stages – a one-off event taking place in Greystoke Forest on Saturday 22 August 2020. Celebrating all things M-Sport, the entry will be limited to any M‑Sport manufactured Focus or Fiesta, while the event itself will act as an example of how the UK can return to rallying.

Back in March, Greystoke and the Malcolm Wilson Rally marked the last UK gravel event before COVID-19 brought the industry to a standstill. Five months later, and the Cumbrian forest is set to host the return of competition whilst showcasing how club rallying can return safely and responsibly.

Plans came about after M-Sport reached out to Motorsport UK to see how they could help get the industry back up and running as quickly as possible. After a number of brainstorming sessions, a day in Greystoke was organised to produce a series of short films explaining the necessary safety measures and advising event organisers how to best combat the effects of COVID-19.

The M-Sport Stages will showcase these new practices in operation – including the electronic management of information and documentation, socially distanced time controls and the safe recovery of vehicles and crews.

Organised in conjunction with the West Cumbria and Eden Valley Motor Clubs, the event will run six timed stages across 38 competitive miles – all within the confines of Greystoke forest. The service park will also be situated within the forest complex and, although spectators will unfortunately not be permitted, work is afoot to deliver the best of the action to the public.

For the first time in the history of all Greystoke-based events, there will be a recce convoy on Friday evening – reminiscent of the legendary Mille Pistes of the early 1980s – and pace notes will be available to purchase from former M-Sport co-driver and Greystoke regular Craig Parry.

The event will also be a special one for M-Sport as the entry is limited to 45 M-Sport manufactured cars only. This could include everything from the Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta World Rally Cars to the Ford Fiesta ST, S2000, RRC, R1, R2 and R5 as well as the latest Ford Fiesta Rally4 and Ford Fiesta R5 MkII. It will be a showcase of what M-Sport has achieved over the past 20 years – creating an effective ‘Ladder of Opportunity’ with competitive cars across all levels of rallying.

Further information, regulations and special announcements will be issued on the M-Sport website and fans will be able to follow the action and preparations on the company’s social media platforms.
 
M-Sport and Michelin achieved one of the sport’s most inspiring success stories when they launched the Fiesta WRC in the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship – a private team from the edge of the English Lake District National Park overcoming the might of three of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers to secure the Driver, Co-driver and Manufacturer Championships.
 
That achievement would not have been possible without the support of dedicated and long-standing partners like Michelin, and the two companies are delighted to showcase the top-specification Fiesta at Rally Legend. The team will announce which driver will take to the wheel at a later date.
 
M-Sport Ford Team Principal, Richard Millener, said:
 
“The Ford Fiesta WRC is one of our most special and successful cars and what we achieved will be remembered for a very long time. But none of it would have been possible without the support of our partners, and it’s a pleasure to be able to showcase it at an event as prestigious as Rally Legend with a partner as valued and respected as Michelin.”