Fourmaux helps build new WRC Puma for Sweden after Montekrasch
The Frenchman has traveled to M-Sport’s British base this week to give his support to the staff as they work to build a new Puma from scratch in time to compete on the snow in Rally Sweden at the end of the month.
Fourmaux and co-driver Alexandre Coria were lucky enough to come out unscathed after a terrifying crash in last month’s WRC opening in Monte Carlo.
The 26-year-old misjudged a left-hander, plowing straight into a mountainside, which resulted in Puma being thrown over the Armco barriers and into a ravine, which destroyed the car in the process.
While the car was being picked up, it was considered faster to build a completely new chassis to compete in Sweden (February 24-27), where Fourmaux chose to make the trip to the UK to help the mechanics complete the construction.
The transmission and engine will be carried over from the car that was involved in the accident in Monte Carlo.
“It was important for me to come and give some support and help to the guys and show that I’m not just there on the rally, and that we work as a team,” Fourmaux told Motorsport.com.
“They have done a lot of work to build four cars during the Christmas season, so it was really disappointing for me and for them to destroy the car so I wanted to help.
“I have worked on rebuilding the hybrid unit and the cooling stuff and I am rebuilding all the crossbeams and suspension arms on the cars. I have worked in the engine compartment as well, so it is interesting for me as well.
“I know a little more about the car, so I have a better understanding.
“I like hanging out with the guys. Sure, it’s not a pleasant moment in my career, but at least it’s good to hang out with them and understand the car.”
M-Sport’s leading Pumas development engineer Tim Jackson said that the relatively short time frame between Monte Carlo and Sweden resulted in the team choosing to build a new car.
“It was pretty bad and that chassis [in Monte Carlo] will not be used in Sweden because the turn has been too narrow to do so, he added.
“We had a spare chassis that the guys built anyway so it was just a matter of time saving for what would be the fastest way to get a new one built and so using a shell that we had already expected was the way to go.
“There have been some major crashes in the tests and for all manufacturers [the new spaceframe chassis] has performed quite well so it was no surprise. It is good to know that this continues to be the case. “
M-Sport will line up four Cougars to compete in Rally Sweden with Italian Lorenzo Bertelli who will make his Rally1 debut, joining full-time Craig Breen, Gus Greensmith and Fourmaux.
The team currently leads the manufacturers’ position after Sebastien Loeb’s win in Monte Carlo. Breen finished the podium in third place ahead of Greensmith in fifth.