Estonian WRC ace Markko Märtin has left Ford Rally Sport and will be double world champion Marcus Gronholm’s team-mate at Peugeot next year, the team has announced.
Estonian WRC ace Markko Märtin has left Ford Rally Sport and will be double world champion Marcus Grönholm’s team-mate at Peugeot next year, the team announced.
Martin and co-driver Michael Park will combine with Gronholm and Timo Rautiainen for the French marque’s final season in the sport. Peugeot intends to bounce back in 2005 with a competitive and hopefully reliable 307 WRC, and a new tyre partner, Pirelli.
Grönholm, 36, was been with Peugeot for the past six years and Märtin, 29, finished third in the 2004 Drivers’ World Championship and boasts a total of five WRC wins.
“Despite this agreement being limited to just one year, I am very happy to be joining Peugeot Sport and I am looking forward to having Marcus as team-mate. We get on well together and I have a great deal of respect for him. I believe he is still the fastest driver in the championship,” the Estonian said.
“Markko is a first class recruit,” Grönholm said. “He has shown that he is very strong on all types of surface, and that is very important for Peugeot’s bid to secure the Manufacturers’ championship in 2005. I am certain his arrival in the team will ensure a serene, cordial atmosphere.”
