M-Sport Ford’s fleet of EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRCs will be chasing a strong result when the FIA World Rally Championship ventures to the team’s home event.

To best prepare for Wales Rally GB’s notoriously challenging stages, the team completed four days of testing - both at home in Cumbria as well as on location in the Welsh forests.

And with the event’s past five winners all behind the wheel of the Fiesta this week, the Dovenby Hall-based team have high hopes of once again challenging for victory.

Last year’s victory was particularly special as the Welsh fixture played host to an incredible weekend for the Cumbrian squad who secured the win as well as the FIA World Rally Championships for manufacturers, drivers and co-drivers.

The Championships can’t be secured on Welsh soil this year but the victory will be hotly-contested and could well prove pivotal as the 2018 season draws to a close, and M-Sport Ford will be giving their all in pursuit of a repeat performance.

M-Sport’s Cumbrian team principal Malcolm Wilson OBE said: "The competition could not be closer and we’ll be hoping for another strong result on home soil.

"Nothing will ever top last year when we secured all three titles as well as the rally win but we are aiming to be in the fight for another victory this year.

"Both Sébastien [Ogier] and Elfyn [Evans] know what it takes to stand on the top step of the podium in Wales.

"Sébastien has won this event four times, and Elfyn not only grew up on these roads, but also made history when he won the event last year – the first Welsh driver to ever do so at this level.

"This will be Teemu [Suninen’s] first time here in a world rally car and there will be a lot to learn, but time after time he proves what a quick learner he is, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he sprung another surprise or two this weekend."