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Why DMACK won't repeat its 2016 Rally Poland shock

DMACK is unlikely to repeat its 2016 dominance of Rally Poland this weekend as that was achieved with a bespoke tyre, says its World Rally Championship driver Elfyn Evans.

Last year Ott Tanak came very close to winning in Poland in his DMACK Ford Fiesta WRC before damaging a tyre and falling to second on the final morning.

But DMACK's tyre strategy has moved on for 2017, and its package is now suited more broadly to the full season rather than focusing on specific rallies where it felt it had a chance to win.

"What we had last year was a two-rally tyre which was great for Poland and Rally GB," Evans told Autosport.

"This year we've already seen the benefit of the new tyre in Portugal, Mexico, Argentina and last time in Sardinia, so the change has been a positive one.

"We're probably not going to see the sort of advantage the DMACK had in Poland last year, not unless we get some really wet weather.

"With Poland being such a quick place, it's important to be on the pace from the very beginning - it's so hard to try to catch time back once you drop it in these quick bits."

Last year (pictured above) DMACK ran a softer hard tyre that was perfect for Poland.

If it rains heavily this weekend, DMACK's harder soft tyre could offer a similar advantage.

It has already come within 0.7 seconds of victory with Evans in Argentina this year.

SUNINEN'S WRC CHANCE

M-Sport's WRC2 driver Teemu Suninen will make his debut in a Fiesta World Rally Car this week and is keen to see how he compares to the top-class regulars.

His programme also includes a World Rally Car for the following event in Finland.

"It will be very interesting to see where is my speed compared with the top guys," Suninen told Autosport.

"I know Rally Poland, but I don't know this Fiesta on the really high-speed roads.

"I tested at M-Sport for two days, but shakedown will give us our first experience of these fast stages.

"Then the plan will be to drive smoothly to the finish, gaining maximum experience before my next outing on home soil."

M-Sport has also announced plans for another private Fiesta WRC for Rally Germany in August, when Armin Kremer will drive a World Rally Car at home for the first time in 13 years.

Zdroj: autosport.com