Latvian sensation gets third M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 drive with continued support from the WRC Promoter.
Latvian sensation Mārtiņš Sesks will return to the top tier of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) at Rally Chile Bio Bío thanks to continued support from the WRC Promoter and his own personal sponsors.
The 24-year-old will once again get back behind the wheel of a non-hybrid M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, after he delivered stellar performances at both ORLEN 80th Rally Poland and Tet Rally Latvia, for the WRC’s South American leg which is based in the Bio Bio region from 26–29 September.
Sesks made a stunning top-tier debut in Poland, where he clocked multiple top-three stage times and secured an outstanding fifth-place finish. That momentum carried into his home rally in Latvia where he upgraded to a hybrid-powered Puma and claimed two stage wins, though a mechanical failure in the final stage denied him a podium result.
Recognising his immense potential, WRC Promoter has reaffirmed its commitment to Sesks’ career, continuing the support that enabled his breakthrough performances in Poland and Latvia. This backing aligns with WRC Promoter’s broader strategy of expanding opportunities within the sport as recently demonstrated by its support of Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkönen, who debuted a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 at Secto Rally Finland.
WRC Promoter’s dedication to nurturing young talent is also exemplified through initiatives like the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme, which will provide a promising female driver a fully supported entry into the FIA Junior WRC next season.
“We are thrilled to see Mārtiņš return to the Rally1 category and proud to continue supporting such a promising young talent,” remarked Peter Thul, WRC Promoter’s Senior Director of Sport. “Mārtiņš has already shown remarkable speed and determination in Poland and Latvia, and we believe his future in the WRC is exceptionally bright. Supporting the next generation is crucial for the continued growth and excitement of the WRC, and our commitment to nurturing young talent remains stronger than ever.”
Mārtiņš eagerly anticipates his third opportunity to drive the Ford Puma Rally1: “We are very grateful for the opportunity to drive a Rally1 car again, just two months after our previous rally. It’s been an incredible adventure so far, and the experience of driving keeps getting better. Competing in Chile in a Rally1 car is truly amazing, so I’d like to give a big thank you to the WRC Promoter and M-Sport for their support and cooperation.
Of course, it will be quite a challenge, especially starting with a non-hybrid Rally1 car in a rally like this, on slower gravel and at high altitude, which is tough on both the car and the driver. It will be demanding, but we love challenges. Once again, we’ll be the underdogs, driving a rally we don’t know with a non-hybrid car. But I believe we are ready, and everyone is motivated to give our best performance, taking on another great adventure this year with M-Sport. We’re looking forward to it.”
“Mārtiņš made a strong impression in his previous two events with us, so it’s a pleasure to welcome him back to the team in Chile,” said M-Sport Ford Team Principal Rich Millener. “This will undoubtedly be a challenging event, completely different from the previous ones. With no prior experience on this tricky rally, it’s no easy task, but it’s a great opportunity for him to showcase his versatility and further establish himself as a future talent. We hope this experience will bolster his ambition to become a regular name in the Rally1 class.”
Millener’s thoughts were echoed by Malcolm Wilson OBE, M-Sport Managing Director: “It’s fantastic to be working with Mārtiņš again. His performances in Poland and Latvia impressed a lot of people and I’m very proud that the WRC Promoter, his sponsors and M-Sport can offer him another opportunity to develop his skills in Rally1 machinery.
“We’ve done a lot over the years to support upcoming drivers, and I think Mārtiņš has already shown he can be part of this next generation of top-level drivers