WRC: Sousa gets Fiesta for WRC Cup

Portugal’s Bernardo Sousa will drive one of M-Sport’s Fiesta S2000s in the inaugural WRC Cup next season.

The 22-year-old becomes the third driver in little over a fortnight to confirm a season competing with M-Sport’s new model. He joins experienced WRC duo Janne Tuohino and Xevi Pons.

Sousa has contested the Production Car World Rally Championship for the past two seasons. He drove a Group N Mitsubishi Lancer in 2008 before getting his first taste of S2000 machinery last year as he finished tenth overall in an Abarth Grande Punto.

“I think everyone saw that the Punto wasn’t that competitive,” Sousa told wrc.com after announcing his switch the WRC Cup, “at least not as much as we thought it would be at the beginning of the season.

"If we want to try and get to first position we needed to change. The Punto hasn't evolved, and it was the first to be built to the Super 2000 rules so we need to change it. I'm sure that the Fiesta is the best car on the market."

Sousa will take part in seven rallies next season, including the opening round in Sweden, in the Fiesta which will be run by factory squad M-Sport.

"With M-Sport and the Fiesta I think we're going to be with the best team and the best car," he said. "I think this combination will help us achieve the best results. Also, it looks like Xevi Pons will be a new team-mate, and that's going to be great. I'm sure we'll get along very well, and having drivers like him in the team is good for the development of the car.

"This will be my third year in the WRC and I hope that with a bit more experience I can get some top five finishes, and maybe some podiums on events we know a bit better.”

Watch the WRC on Motors TV in 2010.


Andy Wilkinson