Martins Sesks, driver for the M-Sport Ford team, has achieved an important victory at the Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal, finishing the season of the European Rally Championship (ERC) on a positive note, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future in the World Rally Championship (WRC).
After a difficult season in the WRC, where his best finish was seventh place in Estonia, Sesks demonstrated his potential with an impressive performance in the famous Portuguese gravel stages. His victory, secured with a lead of 1 minute and 2.9 seconds over Pablo Sarrazin, was marked by adversity, including a suspension failure that caused him to lose time in the traffic of the race.
The Latvian driver started the rally’s final day with a lead of 10.5 seconds over his teammate, Roope Korhonen, who was competing for the WRC2 title. However, the rally took an unexpected turn when Korhonen won three consecutive stages, momentarily taking the lead. Fortunately for Sesks, his competition faced technical issues that allowed him to regain control of the race.
This triumph marks Sesks’ fifth success in the ERC and serves as a reminder of his potential in the WRC, where he has faced adversity on several occasions during the 2026 season. “We had many problems, both Roope and I, but today we had a bit more luck. The speed we showed has given us confidence for the future,” Sesks commented.
Despite the victory, Sesks remains reserved about his future, stating that while there are opportunities for the next season, the conditions must be favorable. “I don’t know what will happen, but I hope to be able to race regularly in a good team. If the offers aren’t suitable, I might have to consider other options,” he added.
His performance in the rally has fueled speculation about his continuity in the WRC, where he has had mixed experiences. Despite being satisfied with his progress, the main goal for 2027 is to achieve a more solid program with more scheduled races. “Seeing the acceleration I’ve had in Finland makes me believe in my potential. I just need more time behind the wheel to improve,” he concluded.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
