Ford Rallye Sport boss Malcolm Wilson says his team’s young Belgian driver, Francois Duval, must start obeying driving orders or risk fading into obscurity.
Ford Rallye Sport boss Malcolm Wilson says his team’s young Belgian driver, Francois Duval, must start obeying driving orders or risk fading into obscurity.
Duval knocked a wheel off his Ford Focus when he cut a corner on Rally Finland’s final day and Wilson wasn’t impressed: “I’m very disappointed in Francois, because I told him that even if he came 25th or 30th it didn’t matter.
“We wanted him to get more mileage (from the Focus WRC RS 03). And then for him to go and cut a corner like that is beyond me. If Francois is not going to listen and learn, that’s not acceptable to me,” Wilson added.
The Briton added that Duval would be instructed to follow firm orders again in the next round of the World Championship, the Rally of Australia. “I was planning to let him go for it in Australia,” said Wilson, “but it might be that I have to review that plan after what’s happened here [in Finland].”
Meanwhile, Duval’s team-mate, Markko Martin, hasn’t ruled out his chances of taking his third win of the season Down Under.
Ford Rallye Sport believes that Australia will likely to be the toughest test his team faces in the closing months of the season, chiefly because his Estonian star has limited experience of one of the World Championship’s most specialised rallies. But after his Finnish triumph, Martin senses an opportunity.
“For me, last year was the first time to do it [properly], but I found New Zealand quite difficult then and this year it was OK. If we sort out the pace notes and concentrate hard, I think we can fight for the podium and maybe better. I am sure the car can win it,” Martin said.
