Does Martins Sesks have a future with M-Sport in WRC?

M-Sport Ford is involved in ongoing discussions to add Martins Sesks to its World Rally Championship driver line-up for 2026.

The British squad announced its full-time driver line-up for next year this week, which sees Josh McErlean joined by European Rally Championship title runner-up Jon Armstrong – who will make the leap to Rally1 machinery for the first time. The decision comes as part of an expanded collaboration with the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, which has long supported Irish rising stars McErlean and Armstrong.

The announcement failed to mention Gregoire Munster, who piloted a Ford Puma Rally1 for the past two seasons and Sesks, who enjoyed part-time campaigns in both 2024 (three rallies) and 2025 (seven rallies).

However, M-Sport did state in its press release that “further announcements on M-Sport’s remaining line-up will be made soon”.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, team principal Richard Millener didn’t rule out the possibility of both Munster and Sesks joining the team again in some form in 2026.

Sesks in particular helped his cause for 2026 by delivering a stunning drive in last month’s season finale in Saudi Arabia, where he challenged for victory until punctures and an engine issue ended his rally on the final day.

Millener says discussions are ongoing, but admitted Sesks won’t be joining the team at the January season opener in Monte Carlo.

“It is not a pick and choose exercise and just because he [Martins] did well in Saudi we have got the budget to put him in for a year. People are dreaming a bit there,” said Millener.

“We are still in negotiations with him for sure and we would like to see him in the team. He won’t be in Monte Carlo, but we are working to try and see what we can do. There are still ongoing discussions, so it is not dead.”

Reflecting on being able to find the necessary budget to ensure that the team can continue to field two cars for the full season next year, Millener added: “We have been working on it for a while in the background to try and find a way to be there next year, and you know how hard it is for us to do that, and I think it is quite pleasing to have a solid line-up for all the rallies.

«It was always the intention to have a second year with Josh. You need at least two years, one to learn and one year to start improving yourself, and you need more than that.

“For Jon, it was something that came very late in the day. His results in the last couple of ERC rounds was really an eye catcher, and it was something Malcolm [Wilson, M-Sport founder], John Coyne [Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy] and myself talked about a few rallies ago about the concept of giving Jon the opportunity.

“Everyone was in agreement, and we have found a way to do that. It is a bigger collaboration with the rally academy, which is great and it means we have two interesting youngsters lining up for the full season, which is the main goal.»

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— The Motorsport.com Team