[WRC] FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024

**Fast Eddie WRC** · 19th November 2024, 10:56

M-SPORT FORD WRT: M-Sport Ford Gears Up for the WRC Finale at Rally Japan

M-Sport Ford World Rally Team prepares for an intense conclusion to the 2024 World Rally Championship with Rally Japan, promising high stakes, challenging conditions, and fan-fuelled excitement. The team, featuring the Ford Puma Rally1 pairings of Adrien Fourmaux/Alex Coria and Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka, is set to compete in the picturesque Aichi and Gifu regions.

Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria aim for a strong finish, building on a successful season that included multiple podiums and stage wins. .Fourmaux sees this rally as a full-circle moment, aiming for an asphalt podium despite limited prior experience at Rally Japan.

Grégoire Munster and Louis Louka bring valuable knowledge from competing in Rally2 classes, including a WRC2 class win at Japan in 2022. Munster, fresh off a career-best fifth-place finish at the Central European Rally, seeks to cap the season with a strong performance in familiar terrain.

As the championship reaches its conclusion, Rally Japan promises to be a fitting spectacle to crown a season of remarkable competition and determination for M-Sport Ford and the WRC.

Richard Millener, Team Principal, said:

“It’s been a long, but positive season for the team and it’s always a privilege to round off the season here in front of the passionate Japanese fans. I’m hopeful Adrien can make up for his short event here last year and finish the season in style with another podium chase. Grégoire has had a really good first full season in Rally1 and he has good results here in the past so there is no reason he cannot be looking to equal, or better his career best result to date this weekend.

“It will be a hard weekend with only tyre fitting zones on two days, and tricky stage conditions, but we know the Puma can be strong when it’s like this - so let’s see what we can do for one final weekend this year!”

Adrien Fourmaux said:

“Japan is the last rally of the season, we want to finish the great season we’ve had with a nice result, especially on Tarmac. There are some really tricky, technical roads here and it is quite narrow in places, and the forests can be quite dark this time of year.

“Because it’s a long-haul event, no one has done any testing in preparation, so it’s going to be interesting to see where we can be compared to the others. I’m also looking forward to experiencing the culture again, we didn’t get the result we wanted last time so hopefully this year we can combine success with a great experience of the country.”

Grégoire Munster said:

“Japan is a rally I like a lot, I have been quite competitive here in the Rally2 category in the last couple of years. Plus it is really nice to come to Japan and enjoy another culture. I always notice the love of motorsport and rally here is as big, or even bigger, than in Europe so it’s nice to experience the atmosphere. There are a lot of nice ceremonies, especially the prize giving in the stadium, where a lot of fans gather which is really cool.

“Regarding the stages, there are some new stages on the itinerary this year which will be exciting and the weather conditions are always challenging in Japan during this season. So anything can happen!”

**stavrosGDB** · 19th November 2024, 14:11

Gryazin with Initial D livery for rally

**skarderud** · 19th November 2024, 18:29

Mikkelsen won his last race in VW, he would be a legend if he wins in japan

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

**Krigen** · 19th November 2024, 19:37

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC

Rallying UK @RallyingUK

INGRAM: Chris Ingram Set to Compete in Rally Japan with Castrol MEM Rally Team.

British rally champion Chris Ingram, fresh off his 2024 title win, is gearing up to compete in the FORUM8 Rally Japan, marking the final round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship. Ingram will drive a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 under the Castrol MEM Rally Team, showcasing Castrol's iconic colours in this high-stakes event set in Japan's Aichi and Gifu prefectures.

🔹 Ingram, a seasoned WRC competitor with 22 rally events under his belt since his debut in 2013, brings experience from two top-10 finishes and multiple podiums in WRC2 and WRC3. The British driver is also a former European Rally Champion.

🔹 2024 has been a standout year for Ingram, with four rally victories and leading positions in every event he's entered, solidifying his reputation in British rallying.

🔹 This Rally Japan appearance will be Ingram’s first WRC2 entry with the Castrol Toyota and his first FIA World Rally Championship event in Asia.

🔹 Ingram's co-driver, Alex Kihurani, is familiar with the Japanese event, having competed in Rally Japan in 2022, which may provide an edge in navigating the local terrain.

Chris Ingram said: “To be given the opportunity to represent Castrol and its iconic colours and compete in Rally Japan in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 is absolutely incredible.

“Being trusted with this opportunity shows the progress the whole Castrol MEM Rally Team, Alex [Kihurani] and I have made in less than a year.

“We will remain fully focused on delivering an exceptional performance on what will be our first WRC2 entry with the Castrol Toyota and my first long-haul FIA World Rally Championship start.”

Donald Smith, Castrol Global Sponsorship Manager, said: “We are very pleased to announce that Chris [Ingram] and Alex [Kihurani] will be heading to Japan in the Castrol liveried Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.

“Since we launched the Castrol MEM Rally Team earlier this year we have had great interest from the Japanese rally fans, and we look forward to bringing the team to Japan and engaging with the Japanese rally fan base.”

Ingram’s upcoming competition in Japan underscores his swift rise in rallying and strengthens the Castrol MEM Rally Team’s international presence as they look to make a strong impression at Rally Japan.

His swift rise in rallying