M-Sport Battles in British Rally Championship
M-Sport will take on the 2024 Probite British Rally Championship with an exciting line up consisting of Garry Pearson and Max McRae, both will be behind the wheel of the latest specification M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2.
After its success in the BRC with Adrien Fourmaux in 2023, who claimed a clean sweep of event wins to take the championship crown, M-Sport is excited to return in 2024 with this new lineup. M-Sport is renowned for developing rally talent across its World Rally Championship programmes, and it is now looking to continue this back on home soil with Pearson and McRae.
Pearson called in the beginning of his BRC journey after a stellar year in 2021, where he claimed a record-breaking four championship wins across the Motorsport UK National Championship as well as the Scottish, Welsh and BTRDA Series. Pearson would go on to complete his first BRC season in 2022 partly in a Fiesta Rally2, claiming fifth overall in the championship. Improving on this in 2023, the Scot claimed several podiums throughout the season and completed the championship second overall, behind M-Sport’s Fourmaux by only 7 points.
Now 31 years old and no stranger to BRC or the Fiesta Rally2, Pearson will take on his third full BRC season with M-Sport. He will continue his partnership with highly experienced co-driver, Daniel Barritt, as the pair take on the hot competition across the rest of the BRC field.
To prepare for the season ahead, Pearson will participate in M-Sport’s local Malcolm Wilson Rally, to begin to re-familiarise himself with the latest specification Fiesta Rally2.
With a career predominantly based in his native Australia until his British debut in 2022, McRae’s move to European stages has pipped him as one of rallying’s rising stars. Tackling the Junior European Rally Championship in 2023, McRae widened his experience across six mixed-surface events, collecting four top-ten finishes in the Junior class in Rally4 vehicles. McRae topped the year off with a stellar third overall on the hotly contested Cambrian Rally, setting himself up nicely for a strong year on British stages in 2024.
McRae will initially compete on four rounds of the BRC in the aim to develop and hone his skills in the Fiesta Rally2, solidifying his step up into the championship’s top-flight. Fighting in a highly competitive entry in 2024, McRae will partner with British co-driver Cameron Fair and the duo will look to find their feet amongst more experienced drivers as they increase their knowledge and speed over the course of the season.
Son of Alistair and nephew of the late Colin McRae, the 19-year-old will be the third generation McRae to rally Ford machinery in a British championship. M-Sport is thrilled to welcome another McRae into its folds and the team are looking forward to working with both Pearson and McRae as they take on this next challenge in their careers.
Richard Millener, Team Principal, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, said:
“The BRC is a championship close to the heart of Malcolm, myself and the whole of M-Sport so being represented in the UK’s premier series is vitally important for us. The pairing of Garry and Max, I feel, is a really strong one, and I look forward to seeing how they fair in the latest spec Fiesta Rally2. It won’t be an easy task as the entry to the championship is the strongest in years, partly due to the new event calendar, but also the recently announced TV coverage following each event. I am looking forward to seeing the start of the season only a few weeks from now.”
Garry Pearson said:
“I am really looking forward to this year’s British Rally Championship, I think the calendar has some great events and the competition is going to be fierce. With ITV coverage being added into the mix it’s a great opportunity for me to be able to promote my current and new sponsors who I can’t thank enough for helping me get to where we are today. I’m also thankful to M-Sport for providing the opportunity to be involved with a great car with proven ability and continued development. Linking up with a works team will definitely benefit me and I look forward to meeting the team, and working with Max as a team mate too.”
Max McRae said:
“I’m super excited to announce I’ll be doing a BRC program with M-Sport in their Fiesta Rally2! I can’t wait to gain some amazing experience in a Rally2 car and learn so much from working with this incredible team! Our season will start at the North West Stages in March where I will take part in my first rally on tarmac in the Rally2.”
McRae imagery provided by DirtFish Media.
