The Latvian was a livewire in his WRC cameos last year, but expecting the same in '25 isn't realistic says M-Sport chief
Photography by M-Sport
Words by David Evans, DirtFish Head of Media
Mārtiņš Sesks’ arrival at world rallying’s top table was one of the storylines of 2024. Heading into this week’s Rally Italy, what are the chances of him reengaging in a podium battle in Sardinia?
M-Sport Ford team principal Richard Millener worked hard to broker a deal to bring the Latvian star back to the team for this year. He started with sixth in Sweden then suffered the disappointment of a puncture on the first proper stage in Portugal.
To Sardinia, then. Last time Sesks was on the island, he did score a top-three finish, but that was five years ago in the Junior World Rally Championship. Millener’s realistic about the week ahead.
“I think a podium is going to be very, very difficult [for Sesks] this year,” he told DirtFish. “The competition level around us is so high. Just to get some nice stage times would be good.
“Competing at the front of the World Rally Championship is bloody hard work – especially when you’re not in the car and competing all the time. We have tried to mitigate that by running Mārtiņš for five events in a row to give him some consistent seat time, but he’s still going up against guys who are in the car much more and, these guys are fast. The Toyotas are so fast – you can see the Hyundais are hanging on for dear life to get close to them.
Millener rates Sesks, but is aware how difficult it is to be competitive in the WRC these days
“For Mārtiņš this week, if the weather’s playing ball and his position on the road works for him then maybe it’s possible we could see some more fastest times from him, but while we’re still learning about how the tire works on another new rally it’s very difficult to predict anything.”
One thing Millener can predict is an absence of team orders in the service park’s blue corner.
Sesks #22 Ford Puma Rally1 brings another challenge to the already healthy competition between full-time drivers Grégoire Munster and Josh McErlean. The Irishman’s speed last time out in Portugal raised questions of a potential hierarchy in the British squad.
Asked if he would slow a driver down to protect the potential for points, Millener said: “Absolutely not. A fair bit was made of Josh’s speed in Portugal, but for me he’s been kind of on Grég’s pace from the start. It’s certainly not a flash in the pan.
“He’s not made any big mistakes or, touch wood, had any kind of crazy accident. I think he was unlucky in Sweden and again in the Canaries, these were small mistakes which are teaching him lessons.
“Having a bit of rivalry in the team is good because it pushes the other drivers on. There’s still a good atmosphere and that’s the main thing. We want to work proactively and that competition in the team is healthy. We’ll continue to share all the information and data, that’s not going to change.
“And having Mārtiņš in the team in exactly the same car does bring another dimension and more competition. Like I said, that’s a good thing.”
Sesks will make a brief deviation from his WRC program with M-Sport, when he competes on Rally Poland next week (June 13-15) in the ERC.
He’ll drive a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 representing MRF Tyres.
Words:David Evans
Tags: M-Sport, Mārtinš Sesks, Rally Italy Sardinia, Rally Italy Sardinia 2025, Richard Millener, WRC, WRC 2025
Publish Date June 3, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/06/ZSddZgSm-WRC_POR_25__354-780x520.jpg June 3, 2025
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