If one established factory team was a model of inconsistency in 2003, it was Ford. The team debuted the new Focus, and it was incredibly quick — when it was running. Markko Martin showed poise and skill in winning Rally Finland — but retired or crashed out of a handful of other rallies. Francois Duval showed glimpses of brilliance — when he wasn’t pulling his Focus out of the trees. This will be a year of huge expectations for the car and for Martin.

Let’s begin with Duval. Team manager Malcolm Wilson believes that Duval has what it takes to win rallies and fight for the championship. It’s just a matter of whether or not the young Belgium wants to gain experience the easy way or the hard way. Duval found himself in the doghouse several times in 2003 after not following team orders to lay off the throttle a bit and get his Focus to the finishing ramp. While Wilson has stated that Duval is still an important part of the team, he’s decided to nominate Janne Tuohino, a Finn, as the team’s other point scorer for several rallies this year to improve Ford’s chances for the manufacturer’s title. Duval will still contest these rallies, but it remains to be seen if this will be in a factory-spec Focus or a privateer car.

Much will be expected of Markko Martin this season. When his Focus was running, Martin was setting scratch times no matter the surface. His win in Finland was his most impressive, as it’s rare for a non-Finn to win the event. That victory proved that Martin was a threat to win the title, and that the Focus was the fastest car on the circuit. It’s important to realize that while Martin has shown he’s fast, he’s still inexperienced — he’s a full season behind Petter Solberg as far as WRC experience. The two were teammates at Subaru in 2001, the year Solberg had his first full factory drive. That season Martin ran a limited programme in the factory-spec Impreza. Martin will be dangerous next season, as he’s not doubt learned from his mistakes in 2003.

Ford is really the only team that should give Citroen a run for the money in the manufacturer’s championship — if Duval has a consistent year. The Focus is fast, and a winter of testing and development should iron out most of the bugs. Martin should be in contention for the driver’s championship this season as well. He’s shown he has the ability to win rallies, but can he do it over the course of a 16 rally season?

Posted on 11 January 2004