After five years and an exemplary 2024 World Rally Championship season with M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, the squad today confirms the departure of Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria for pastures new in 2025.
Fourmaux’s career with M-Sport has told a story of growth, resilience and success that will serve as the blueprint for future rally talent. From humble beginnings to thrilling podium finishes, Fourmaux has enjoyed impressive foundational years that now pave the way for his future accomplishments.
Since the beginning of his rallying journey in 2017, Fourmaux has been a steadfast representative of Ford machinery across WRC and national categories. Claiming the French Junior title in 2018 in a Ford Fiesta R2T with only a year’s experience under his belt, Fourmaux would find himself in the spotlight, earning a seat in an M-Sport car in 2019.
Delivering a breakthrough performance during his WRC debut at Rally Monte-Carlo, where he claimed a stunning second place in the WRC2 category behind the wheel of a Fiesta R5, Fourmaux’s next chapter was already taking shape. That same year saw him secure a further WRC2 podium at Wales Rally GB, identifying himself as one of the sport’s rising stars.
Now driving the new Fiesta Rally2 in 2020, Fourmaux once again delivered exceptional results, matching his previous Monte result with another second place finish on the season opener. He went on to claim further WRC2 podiums in Estonia and Turkey, and also achieved his first major victory at the European Rally Championship’s final round on Rally Islas Canarias.
By 2021, Fourmaux’s growing momentum earned him a top-level WRC outing with the Ford Fiesta WRC on Croatia Rally, where he delivered a sensational fifth place finish on his first time competing in the championship’s top flight. He would continue to deliver impressive performances that year, including claiming a maiden stage win on the iconic Safari Rally Kenya.
This impressive run of results saw him offered a full-time Rally1 seat in 2022, alongside new co-driver Alexandre Coria. His 2022 season, although tumultuous, will remain one of the pivotal seasons of the French pairing’s careers.
Making a return to the Fiesta Rally2 in 2023, Fourmaux utilised this step back from top-level competition to re-focus and hone his skills and confidence. Competing with M-Sport on home soil in the British Rally Championship, Fourmaux and Coria dominated with a clean sweep of five rally wins and claimed the overall championship titles. Their WRC2 campaign was equally impressive, with a standout RC2 category win in Central Europe and second place on Rally Finland’s famously demanding stages.
Now reunited with Rally1 machinery, Fourmaux kicked off 2024 with a fifth place finish in Monte-Carlo before claiming his first overall WRC podium after a stunning performance on Rally Sweden. He followed up with another podium on gravel after finishing third at Rally Safari Kenya, adding further podium finishes in Poland, Finland and Japan and demonstrating his prowess across asphalt, gravel and snow. With 11 stage wins and consistent performances, Fourmaux achieved podiums on every surface this season, cementing his status as a rally star on the rise.
Fourmaux’s career to-date is a perfect representation of M-Sport’s dedication to nurturing and developing future talent and highlights the value of the progression opportunities available to young drivers within the sport.
As Fourmaux and Coria embark on the next chapter of their careers in 2025, the team extends heartfelt congratulations on their incredible journey so far and wishes them every success in their future endeavours.
Malcolm Wilson OBE, M-Sport UK Chairman, said:
“I have been incredibly impressed with Adrien’s performances this year and he has truly shown himself to be one of the future stars of our sport. Despite the challenges he has faced so far in his career, he has demonstrated a commendable level of grit and determination and comes away from every experience stronger than before.
“His partnership with Alex has helped to facilitate the growth we’ve seen in him and I believe they are an excellent pairing to take on this next phase of their careers together. They have been an integral part of the M-Sport team for many years now and will certainly be missed by everyone here. I look forward to seeing what the future brings for them.”
Richard Millener, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Principal, said:
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Adrien and Alex over the last few years. It has been especially rewarding to watch and see their development over the last two years, growing into true professional athletes.
“Sharing the joy of the five podiums this year has been really special and I know that the whole team and myself will really miss not having them around. Finally, total respect to both of them - they have made this opportunity for themselves through hard work and determination and they fully deserve this next chapter of their story.”
Adrien Fourmaux said:
“I came to M-Sport at the end of 2018 as a really young driver taking care of the new Rally2 as a mechanic, and ending up now with victories and a podium in all classifications. I’ve learned so much with the team, especially Malcolm who has always been taking care of my career and development.
“I drove an M-Sport Ford car for all of my career since 2017 and I owe a lot to the whole team. We’ve had some ups and downs, but we’ve always been a family who is dedicated to the most demanding sport in the world. Thank you to Malcolm and the whole team for all the memories we had together. This is not a goodbye, but a ‘see you next time’.”
Published 5 December 2024