Fourmaux spent much of 2023 honing M-Sport’s Ford Fiesta Rally2 into a winner. And with Armstrong reliant on Fiesta power for his 2024 ERC campaign, who better than Frenchman Fourmaux to turn to for advice.
Armstrong, who became FIA ERC3 champion in 2023 driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3, said: “I was in Poland to have a chat with Adrien to see if we can find some areas we can improve on. We’re improving but I want to keep improving and I hope we can keep getting better. It’s all about being consistent, clean and keep pushing, so let’s see.”
The 29-year-old Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed driver continued: “I just to try and get as much reference as possible. There’s only so much you can do over the phone or email so to get in-person and have a chat with people [like Adrien] and try to learn more, especially before the rally starts, it’s a good way to get more knowledge and try to keep pushing forward.
“Adrien was really helpful, I was taking up some of his time before Rally Poland but he’s definitely helped us to go in the right direction and everyone at M-Sport is really supporting us to help us improve.”
Asked what specific advice Fourmaux had given him, Armstrong said: “It’s just to know what to do with the general direction of the car and driving style and what to do with the set-up, just giving us confidence as well. Once you know what you should be doing you just focus on that and start pushing. He’s just given me a better mindset.”
After finishing sixth on Delfi Rally Estonia earlier this month, Armstrong and co-driver Eoin Treacy are fourth in the provisional ERC standings. Rally di Roma Capitale is next on the European schedule from 26 - 28 July.
Chile
Poland
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