M-Sport has advanced its preparations for the upcoming season by evaluating a newly developed WRC Kit package designed for its Rally2 car platform. The initial test schedule involved two different drivers providing immediate feedback on handling and character, namely veteran test driver Matthew Wilson and rising talent Romet Jurgenson. This evaluation phase ensures technical progress remains aligned with targets ahead of formal homologation filings.
M-Sport Team Principal Richard Millener emphasized that despite the performance upgrades, the vehicle strictly retains its core Rally2 identity. Millener addressed these technical nuances during an appearance on the Krunching Gears podcast to clarify public perception surrounding recent testing videos shared online.
"You have to remember that it is still 95 per cent a Rally2 car," Millener explained. "It has an air restrictor that is one millimetre larger, a minimum weight that is ten kilograms lower, slightly more aerodynamic elements and an electronically controlled boost valve instead of a mechanical overpressure valve. If you compare the cars side by side, they could look very similar depending on the type of corners you are looking at."
Millener noted that while these modifications increase overall speed, the margin of difference will vary across different road conditions and running order positions, ultimately tightening overall competition across the field.
"The difference will not be huge, however, particularly on certain surfaces, in certain road conditions or from certain positions in the running order. I believe this will make the WRC considerably more competitive. I think we will see some really interesting stage times and results from quick Rally2 drivers on individual events," Millener added, projecting faster overall pace over a full season provided events run clean of major mechanical setbacks.
Prior to submitting official homologation documents, M-Sport conducted an intensive testing program in Spain covering both gravel and asphalt surfaces. They subsequently entered the car as a designated zero car at the ERC Rally Portugal driven by Josh McErlean to rack up valuable mileage and evaluate component durability in real rally environment settings.
Throughout the Portuguese outing, M-Sport focused heavily on gathering operational data using Hankook WRC-spec tyres, which behave differently from national rally rubber. "We wanted to gather more feedback on them, but that also means the stage times are not necessarily directly comparable. We also tried different things rather than chasing outright pace. Overall, it was effectively a major three-week testing programme that gave us a solid foundation to continue development work," Millener concluded.
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