Despite its inexperienced lineup, 2025 has offered plenty of promise for M-Sport. Grégoire Munster delivered his first career stage win in Monte Carlo, and grabbed another in Kenya – with team-mate Josh McErlean tucked right behind in second on that test.
But Islas Canarias was really not an event fit for the highlight reel.
From the get-go, Munster was clear the team was at a disadvantage with its two-car entry for a brand-new rally – particularly compared to Toyota which was running five cars and therefore had five test days.
Either way, the Puma Rally1 never troubled the top of the timesheets in Gran Canaria – understeer the problem afflicting both drivers.
They clubbed together to try different setup solutions – Munster admitting to taking a “gamble” on Saturday before he ultimately made a mistake, carrying too much speed into an acute right-hander and sliding off, losing three minutes in the process.
M-Sport’s Puma didn’t fare particularly well the last time the WRC headed for Spain and a ‘pure’, dry Tarmac rally either – the particular problem this year being making the tire work underneath it.
“I think that if a stage is 20km, we are doing 21 just by going a bit wider in each corner,” Munster surmised. “You know you can do more but the car cannot handle it.”
His off, caused he said by trying different things with the setup, and then McErlean’s crash out on Sunday morning rubbed further salt into the wounds.
There wasn’t even any solace from WRC2 as Romet Jürgenson put his Fiesta off on the very first stage – that after an engine change was required prior to the rally.
