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WRC2 programme for Gilbert with M-Sport

Quentin Gilbert and Renaud Jamoul, who kicked off their 2014 season with victory in the WRC3 in the Monte Carlo Rally, increase their programme in the world championship. With backing from M-Sport they will race in four to six WRC2 rallies in a Ford Fiesta R5.

Since his win in the 2009 FFSA Rallye Jeunes Quentin Gilbert's career has followed a consistent upward trend. In 2011, he was in the top 3 in the French Junior Championship; then he won the Citroën Racing Trophy the following year and came second in the Citroën Top Driver in 2013. The driver from the Vosges is drawing ever nearer to the summit with an almost-complete world championship programme, which will begin in Rally Mexico (6-9 March).

Quentin and his co-driver, Renaud Jamoul, will be racing for the prestigious British M-Sport team. They will be at the start of Rally Mexico, the third round of the world championship, in a Ford Fiesta R5 entered in the WRC2 category. It will be the same story in Argentina, Sardinia and Great Britain, as the main aim is to find the money to help them take part in the Australian and Spanish rounds.

"My very first contact with M-Sport goes back to the summer of 2012 when the Echappement magazine organised a test with Jari-Matti Latvala's Ford Fiesta WRC," remembers Quentin. "At the time Malcolm Wilson promised to keep an eye on how I was doing. But I didn't think I'd be racing for his team two years later!"

The M-Sport management's good opinion was reinforced by Quentin's times in the last Rally Great Britain, and they have come up with a programme to help him to continue learning and show his potential in a competitive car. "The little experience I've had at the wheel of an S2000 or a WRC really boosted my determination to change to a four-wheel drive car. The step up in terms of budget was a big one. But thanks to the continued support of my partners and the efforts of the team, I'm quite simply delighted that my dream has come true! I can't wait to get behind the wheel of the Fiesta R5, which already showed its level of performance last year with Elfyn Evans, who was the only driver able to match Robert Kubica's DS3 RRC."

M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said: "I first met Quentin [Gilbert] back in 2012 and have been following his progress ever since. He has already proven himself as a very talented young driver and I am looking forward to seeing how he develops throughout the year.

"M-Sport has always been proactive when it comes to nurturing young talent, and I am happy that we were able to find the perfect deal for Quentin. Taking to the wheel of the [Ford] Fiesta R5 in such a variety of events will enable him to really fine-tune his skills: and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if we saw some very impressive performances from him in 2014."

Now that Quentin and Renaud are on the list of entries for Rally Mexico, the pace is going to hot up! After Rally Sweden taking place this weekend, they will go to Dovenby Hall, M-Sport's headquarters, to get to know the team better and have their first taste of the Ford Fiesta R5. "This announcement isn't final, in fact it's a new chapter that's opening," underlines Quentin. "Once again I'd really like to thank all those who've helped me climb the ladder. There are too many of them to mention, but they'll recognise themselves!"