Bryan Bouffier says his target for the 2018 Monte Carlo Rally is points, when he makes his return to the top class of the World Rally Championship with M-Sport.
Bouffier, who won the 2011 event when it was part of the IRC, finished second to Sebastien Ogier in the 2014 WRC round in Monte.
He will drive the third Fiesta in this year’s rally, with Ogier and Welshman Elfyn Evans in the other cars.
“I have a lot of experience at Rallye Monte-Carlo which helps when it comes to reading the road and adapting the pace to suit the conditions, but this event is never easy,” said Bouffier.
“It’s one of the toughest events on the calendar and to do well you need to drive a clever rally by making the right calls on the tyres and finding the right balance between pushing hard and being more cautious.
“First and foremost, we want to have fun.”
Bouffier will return in Corsica, with young Finn Teemu Suninen partaking in eight events in the third Fiesta. Who will be driving the Fiesta in the remaining three events is yet to be confirmed, as is whether or not M-Sport decide to run a third car on those rounds.
Bouffier says he’s taking a cautious approach to one of the championship’s toughest events.
“We’ll start in a relaxed frame of mind and if we could help the team by scoring some good points for the manufacturers’ championship it would be amazing,” he added.
“It’s one of my favourite events and having the opportunity to do it in one of these new- generation World Rally Cars – the championship-winning car.
“It’s a dream come true.”
