Munster’s maiden WRC stage win “deserved” after 3am repair job

Gregoire Munster’s maiden World Rally Championship stage win in Monte Carlo was a “deserved” reward for each the motive force and the staff that labored till 3am to restore a mechanical fault.

Munster was one of many star performers by way of Friday operating as excessive as fourth and was on track to finish the day in sixth earlier than a mechanical concern on the ultimate street part pressured the Luxembourger to retire his Ford Puma.

M-Sport-Ford staff principal Richard Millener has since revealed that his staff needed to work lengthy into the early hours of the next morning to restore the issue, earlier than checking within the automotive to rejoin the rally with two minutes to spare.

Munster instantly repaid the staff by profitable Saturday’s opening stage after benefiting from beginning first on the street in a stage that grew to become dirtier with each move.

Munster’s drive was nevertheless spectacular to pip Monte Carlo grasp and rally chief Sebastien Ogier to the stage win by 0.8s. It additionally supplied additional proof of the tempo Munster had proven by way of Friday.

“It’s a massive thanks to the staff for the job they did final night time,” mentioned Munster.

“For certain, it’s a little bit of a pity as there was good momentum and a possibility of this rally however that’s how it’s and that’s motorsport. Within the subsequent stage we did not have the best tyre selection so I did not wish to danger something after that top.”

Millener praised the “massive effort” from his staff revealing that many of the personnel returned to the service park at 6am following the in a single day restore.

“Sadly it was extra mechanical than electrical however sadly it meant he needed to retire which was an enormous disgrace for him,” mentioned Millener.

“We weren’t anticipating it in any respect he was driving again to service and the automotive simply minimize out and would not restart.

“It shocked all of us and it took numerous fixing to get issues proper and I feel we left right here at 3am and got here again at 6am. The blokes put in a very massive effort to get it completed and the automotive checked in with about two minutes to spare earlier than it was out of the rally for good.

“There’s a hell of rather a lot that went on that no one noticed and to get the stage win this morning in some methods is simply as deserved for them, but additionally implausible for Greg.

“Now we have bought to place the penalty of final night time behind us however Greg has had a very sturdy weekend and backed that up once more this morning.”